$75-million BC Rural Dividend available to Boundary-Similkameen communities

OLIVER – Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson encourages area First Nations and local governments and organizations throughout the region to apply for the $75-million BC Rural Dividend to help strengthen their communities.

As committed during last September’s Union of B.C. Municipalities convention and in Balanced Budget 2016, the three-year, $75-million Rural Dividend will help rural communities with populations under 25,000 diversify and bolster their economies.

Applications for the first year of funding will be accepted from April 4 to May 31.

“The Rural Dividend will help our region’s communities and organizations diversify their economies, build and retain their workforce and ensure a bright future,” Larson said. “This three-year program will contribute to the overall wellness of our communities so they continue to be great places to live and work.”

Funding of $25 million per year is available in four categories: Community capacity building; workforce development; community and economic development; and business-sector development.

Local governments, not-for-profit organizations and First Nations are eligible to apply.

Single applicants can apply for up to $100,000 for community-driven projects and must contribute at least 20 per cent of the total project cost. Partnerships involving more than one eligible applicant can apply for up to $500,000, and must contribute 40 per cent of the total project cost.

Applicant contributions can include in-kind contributions of up to 10 per cent.

A project development funding stream will provide up to $10,000 to help communities with limited capacity build business cases and feasibility assessments to support the development of strong projects and future project applications.

Downloadable application forms, program guidelines, as well as detailed instructions on how to apply will be available as of April 4, when the new Rural Dividend website goes live: www.gov.bc.ca/ruraldividend

The criteria for the Rural Dividend was designed with input from the Rural Advisory Council, which was formed in March 2015.