Elephant Island Winery in Naramata was one of the recipients of the funding
BRITISH COLUMBIA – Businesses in rural BC communities will have more support to create and increase jobs as more funding is available to hire advisers through the Province’s Rural Business and Community Recovery Initiative (RBCRI).
The Government of BC is providing $4.5 million to support a second round of RBCRI funding. This builds on the initial $4.5 million provided in February 2021 that helped rural communities and businesses recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding created 90 temporary advisory jobs focused on providing support and services to the regions throughout the province that needed it most.
“All of the contacts we made through this program made our business more efficient and resilient, deepening our ability to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing business environment,” said Miranda and Del Halladay, owners of Elephant Island Winery in Naramata. “In particular, accessing the adviser program provided invaluable advice, structure and accountability that we feel has informed and streamlined decision-making. It has allowed us to accomplish more in three months than in the previous 12.”
The second round of the RBCRI funding will shift from concentrating on pandemic recoveries to supporting economic development in communities affected by changes to the forest sector. Advisers will provide support to businesses and communities, which will increase community and regional adaptation, resilience and sustainability.
“We applaud the Province for addressing the recent impacts of the forestry sector in communities throughout the North and British Columbia. With this funding we can provide assistance where it is most needed and work with communities to strengthen our economic future,” said Joel McKay, CEO of Northern Development Initiative Trust.
“This investment from the Province will play a pivotal role in our ongoing efforts to transition, diversify and adapt local economies that have been impacted by forest policy changes and downturns in the sector. These adviser positions will help strengthen our businesses and communities as we look to support economic redevelopment and build sustainability across Vancouver Island and the coast,” said Brodie Guy, CEO of Island Coastal Economic Trust.
Funding for the RBCRI is part of the $185-million support package announced in Budget 2022 to ensure that co-ordinated and comprehensive supports are in place to offset any economic impacts from a changing forestry industry.
The funding will be distributed through regional programs administered by the Northern Development Initiative Trust, the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior and the Island Coastal Economic Trust. Each trust will receive $1.5 million.
“We’re delighted to deliver this new program on behalf of the Province of BC, which will support the businesses and communities in BC’s southern Interior. This new funding will help business support organizations, First Nations and communities in our region to engage advisers who will assist their local businesses and help strengthen local economies,” commented Laurel Douglas, CEO of Economic Trust of the Southern Interior.
Business Examiner Staff