VICTORIA – The Island Coastal Economic Trust (ICET), one of British Columbia’s three publicly funded regional trusts, is expanding the number of communities it serves to benefit more people.
The expansion means organizations within the Capital Regional District (CRD) electoral areas of Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island and the southern Gulf Islands are eligible to apply for funding from ICET and be included in other services that ICET provides.
“Expanding the trust’s service area means more small communities will be eligible for funding that will help them grow and thrive, supporting projects such as building new infrastructure, enhancing small-business opportunities or supporting Indigenous economic development,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation. “As with StrongerBC, ICET is working hard to build an economic recovery for British Columbia that is innovative, sustainable and inclusive.”
ICET was created by the BC government in 2006. It is an independent regional economic development corporation focused on stimulating economic growth and job creation on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
“As a former mayor of Tofino, I know first-hand how important ICET’s role is in building better, stronger regional communities,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “In addition to providing funding for local projects, ICET helps communities build capacity and leverage investment for long-term economic development.”
Until now, communities in the CRD were excluded from the ICET service area. The decision to include the Juan de Fuca, Salt Spring Island and southern Gulf Islands electoral areas was made because the BC government determined these communities have fewer services than their urban CRD neighbours, lack the ability to cover the costs of core services and amenities and face challenges in developing their economies.
Since its inception in 2006, ICET has invested more than $52 million in 225 projects, working in partnership with over 150 organizations involved in regional economic diversification.
These investments have leveraged more than $245 million into the region, or $4.62 for every dollar of ICET funding, and created 2,550 construction-phase jobs and 2,700 long-term jobs.
More than 35 per cent of funding has gone to communities of fewer than 5,000 people.
ICET is one of three regional economic trusts that were publicly funded by the Province. The others are the Northern Development Initiative Trust and the Southern Interior Development Initiative Trust.
