Premier Christy Clark gathered applause Friday with spending announcements aimed at smaller and rural communities. She was speaking at the wrap up of the Union of BC Municipalities convention.

* A $75 million “rural dividend” will be available over three years to communities of fewer than 25,000 people outside urban areas. The fund is to diversify local economies with details yet to come.

* A $10 million top-up to B.C.’s forest fire prevention program to control fuel in interface areas. The program started in 2004. The forests ministry says more than 780 square kilometres have been treated so far.

* A $90 million extension to the infrastructure fund for small communities, which started last year and is funded 50-50 by the federal and provincial governments. It’s available to communities under 100,000 people, covering up to two thirds of eligible projects, with applications accepted starting next month.

* A $5 million addition to the province’s “guns and gangs” strategy, which targets prolific and gang-related offenders and school programs to warn young people away from gang involvement.

Clark pictured with Ron and Tara Hovanes