Funding was approved to provide assistance for the proponent to organize and hold the Touch Wood 2000 Forum in May 2000.

The purpose behind this day-long planning workshop was for regional tourism operators to come together and develop joint goals and a vision for the Association. The workshop took place in March 2001, with 20 participants representing many areas of the Stuart-Nechako region. The group formed a list of common goals and a common vision.

The volunteers of The Nechako Valley Historical Society have been managing a museum site with the help of local businesses and government since 1980. The land and buildings belong to the District of Vanderhoof, but the NVHS is responsible for the care and operation of the facilities. The directors of the society recognized a need to develop a business plan that would show them how to increase revenues, complete existing projects and develop into a viable organization. They raised the required funding from NKDF and hired consultant Shirley Moon of ?Women @ Work? to survey residents and local non profit groups and to write the business plan. The outcomes of implementing the plan include increasing membership and attracting more income from tourists and other sources.

This project was originally turned down in 2001-2002 for lack of matching funds and partnerships with the tourism industry, and was finally approved after those concerns were addressed. The project is being delivered in partnership with Community Futures Development Corporation of Stuart Nechako and with the membership of the tourism association. Grant money from the NKDF was to pay a coordinator?s part-time wages for one year while the tourism association built its membership, its marketing program and its revenue base.

The Cheslatta Carrier Nation was approved for funding assistance for the delivery of training of community leaders and managers of recently established joint-ventures in forestry.

The purpose of this project was to bring a wide range of interest groups together to discuss the Nechako region?s training needs.

This project assists the community in preparing a needs assessment and business plan for all services required by seniors in entire region, with particular attention to preparing an Expression of Interest to Independent Living BC.

This project will result in a marketing strategy for all aspects of the Lakes District economy. It builds on two years of investments made by local, provincial and federal governments. Funding partners for this phase are HRDC and the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako.

This project was approved to address the need for public discussion on several large proposals to the NKDF coming from Vanderhoof. The NKDF directors hoped that a good cross-section of the community would rank order the projects and thereby assist them in making decisions on which ones to fund. A community meeting took place in January 2004 with over 50 people attending. The outcome was several new project approvals for Vanderhoof and a helpful context for assessing future projects.

This project, which included both an economic strategy and an infrastructure upgrade plan, was done in part to stimulate economic development at the airport. The Vanderhoof Airport has served the Stuart-Nechako region since 1938. The District of Vanderhoof saw potential for an improved airport facility to play an important role in broadening the community?s economic base. Project goals included: diversification of the local economy, upgrading the airport infrastructure, encouraging new businesses to locate at the airport, and assisting businesses currently using the airport to expand their services. The District of Vanderhoof and NKDFS were contributors to this project.

The goal of this project is to promote and raise funds for the eventual building of the Haisla Cultural?Governance Building. The project, a partnership between Na Na Kila Institute and the Haisla Totem Pole Committee, will include a small contingency of Haisla representatives to travel and meet with various funding agencies, with the goal of attracting funding for the building of the Haisla Cultural?Governance Building. It is expected that the building, once created, will bring increased visitation and economic benefits to Kitamaat area and BC?s northwest.

The Burns Lake Band has taken possession of the old high school in Burns Lake and has begun phase one renovations. In March 2004, the Band was unsuccessful in its application for assistance with renovations. This project, which includes the development of a business plan and completion of the engineering studies, will help the Burns Lake Band clarify feasibility and remove barriers to project completion. Burns Lake Band and NKDF will each fund 50% of the costs for this project.

As a part of its plan to develop a sustainable economic base, the Haisla First Nation has identified ecotourism and soft adventure tourism as a significant economic sector that will contribute to the First Nation?s broader economic and community development goals. As a part of this strategy, the Haisla plan to build a high-end RV Park adjacent to the MK Bay Marina currently owned and operated by the District of Kitimat. The project is anticipated to benefit the Haisla people by providing employment for public works staff and community members to build the infrastructure and facilities, and on-going employment of an estimated 2-3 people to run the business. The approval was replaced by a subsequent decision by the NKDF Board.

As a part of its plan to develop a sustainable economic base, the Haisla First Nation has identified ecotourism and soft adventure tourism as a significant economic sector that will contribute to the First Nation?s broader economic and community development goals. As a part of this strategy, the Haisla plan to build a high-end RV Park adjacent to the MK Bay Marina currently owned and operated by the District of Kitimat. The project is anticipated to benefit the Haisla people by providing employment for public works staff and community members to build the infrastructure and facilities, and on-going employment of an estimated 2-3 people to run the business. The RV Park concept proved not to be feasible; the project did not go as far as completing a business plan.

The District of Vanderhoof, along with other local communities and First Nations envision that a regionally significant interpretive centre, linked to white sturgeon recovery efforts, will present economic opportunities to enhance tourism, education, and environmental stewardship. The project is funded in partnership by District of Vanderhoof, Western Economic Diversification (CEDI), and NKDF. The NKDF funding will go toward the cost of a business plan.

The purpose of this project was to conduct a feasibility analysis to determine the viability of constructing a 2,500 sq. ft. terminal building at the Baker Airport (CYPZ). The airport currently has no heated facility for visitors or medical staff. LDAS plans to recover costs ongoing to operate and maintain the building through meeting room rental, membership increases, cafeteria lease and office rental. The terminal building and the planned increase in service are necessary parts of the Lakes District economic diversification efforts, such as mining and tourism.

The purpose of this project is to conduct swath grazing demonstrations for the cattle producers in the Nechako Valley. Swath grazing has become a viable management practice, in the Peace River region of BC and throughout Alberta. This practice can be used to extend the grazing season and to reduce feed, labour and manure handling costs for cattle producers. The swath grazing management practice involves seeding annual cereals in mid-May to early June and swathing the crop in late August to mid-September when the crop reaches the soft to late dough stage and before killing frosts. The swaths are left in the field for the cattle to graze during the winter. The project provided four field scale demonstration projects in the Vanderhoof/Ft Fraser area, with four ranch operations utilizing swath grazing practices. The sites are spread throughout the Nechako Valley with the goal of using varied location and production factors.

The goal of this project was to develop a comprehensive analysis of the cross-country ski opportunities in the Fraser Lake area. The feasibility study was created for the proponent, other trail user groups, various stakeholders, and potential partners in the Fraser Lake area. The Association members completed a thorough analysis to identify options, prior to deciding whether to proceed with development of a property. A cross-country ski facility would help to make the community more attractive to residents and visitors to the area. This project was funded in partnership by the NKDF and Casey Lake Cross-Country Ski Association.

Regional District of Bulkley Nechako was approved to receive funding assistance to hire a consultant to complete a region-wide Asset Mapping Report. The project entailed gathering an inventory, categorizing and ranking assets, and discovering why people value some assets more than others in the regional. The information is compiled into an easily updateable database format. The project was necessary to provide the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako communities with thorough baseline economic data ? which the proponent sees as a precursor to building an economic development action plan. The Asset Mapping project is co-funded by the NKDF and the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako.

In November 2006, the Northern BC Container Terminal Opportunity Study was completed and publicized. While the Container Study was comprehensive and informative, it did not focus on opportunities specifically for Aboriginal people. The proponent sought funding assistance from NKDF to complete an Aboriginal Companion Study. This project will serve to help communities acquire public and private investment, will help lead First Nations/Aboriginal workers to long-term job opportunities, and help promote economic activity throughout the investment area. This project is funded in partnership by the NKDF, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, The Province of British Columbia and the Aboriginal Business Development Centre.

The purpose of this project is to conduct a Northwest Regional Destination Resort Gap Analysis, as well as identifying next steps for potential investors. The analysis will include carrying out a SWOT analysis and assessment of principle products and experiences, development of a strategy, recommendations for likely investment clusters and a search for equity investors. The Ministry of Economic Development also provided funding assistance to this project.

NKDF previously supported the Burns Lake Band for engineering and business planning for Phase I of the Gathering Place. The funding is to assist with preparing the architectural drawings and engineering documents for Phase III of the project, which is to renovate 3 meeting rooms (capacity 125 people). Other funding partners include the Burns Lake Community Forest Society and the Burns Lake Band.

BLNDC proposed to purchase a remote controlled, mini-airplane for the purpose of creating a cost-effective method to provide geo-referenced aerial photos along predetermined geographic position system (GPS) routes. BLNDC is conducting a study to determine feasibility of a small social enterprise centred around bringing the innovative technology to the area.

Changes to Meat Inspection Regulations under the Food Safety Act (September 2007) meant that small-lot livestock producers in British Columbia would be left without a way to process their livestock. The goal of this project was to conduct the necessary research to produce a feasibility study for the different poultry processing options that would be practical for communities along the northwest Hwy 16 corridor from Vanderhoof through to Hazelton.

Gya'Wa'Tlaab Healing Centre Society is located in Kitamaat Village and has a mandate to help addicts who have failed other treatments. NKDF approved funding for a feasibility study to assist with determining and defining an economic case for the project. This project is a partnership involving Kitamaat Village Council and NKDF.

The purpose of the Grassroots Economic Development Opportunities Fund is to enable NKDFS to facilitate project development at the community level while leveraging funding from outside the investment area. The idea behind this concept is to have funds available to assist constituents or applicants to turn their project ideas into living projects. The fund is currently administered on an as-needed basis by the NKDF Manager. The funds are to assist prospective applicants with locating potential funding agencies for projects and broader economic development related projects such as making training available that might not otherwise be offered in the communities in the NKDF investment area.