BC – On the recommendations from the Rural Advisory Council, Premier Christy Clark has announced the up to $75-million Rural Dividend to assist communities transition their economies.
“As the global resource economy is in transition, some of the communities that contribute the most to B.C. are feeling the pinch,” says Premier Clark. “The Rural Advisory Council was set up to help identify opportunities for communities to diversify their economies – and now we’re delivering on our commitment to a Rural Dividend.”
Rural communities struggling to reinvigorate and diversify their local economies will be supported in building and implementing their own solutions, based on their own values and needs. The Rural Dividend will support innovative and ambitious ideas and solutions with potential for the most significant impact on rural communities.
“I am proud of what the Rural Advisory Council has accomplished by providing the principles that are the basis of the Rural Dividend,” says Parliamentary Secretary and chair of the Rural Advisory Council, Donna Barnett. “These are the people that understand what their communities need the most.”
Supporting rural community transition and stability, the Rural Dividend will be focussed on the following priorities:
- Building community capacity and quality of life.
- Expanding learning and skill development opportunities.
- Providing opportunities for rural youth to stay and return to rural communities.
- Encouraging collaboration and partnerships between rural British Columbians and First Nations.
The $25-million per-year pilot program will run from 2016-17 to 2018-19, and only be available to communities, outside urban areas, with a population of 25,000 or under. Communities will need to clearly articulate what the funds will be used for and demonstrate the need to be filled. The eligibility criteria and other program details will be finalized by March 2016. The application process will be fully operational starting 2016-17.
The funding will be administered by the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, given its responsibility for rural development.
“This funding, along with the Forest Communities Fund announced today, will provide an added boost to those communities who want to diversify their economy beyond forestry,” says Minister of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Steve Thomson.
