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Program Guidelines

The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund (NKDF) Society’s funding programs are designed:

To support sustainable economic activity in northern communities affected by the Kitimat-Kemano project and by the creation of the Nechako Reservoir. The NKDF spends the income from its long-term investments on programs and projects that meet each community’s economic development goals. The grant target for the 2008-2009 fiscal year is $700,000.

Background of the Fund

In 1997, as part of a resolution of legal issues surrounding the cancellation of the Kemano Completion Project in northwestern British Columbia, the government of British Columbia and Alcan Inc. each contributed $7.5 million to create the BC-Alcan Northern Development Fund.  The BC-Alcan Northern Development Fund Act was passed in 1998.

Following advice from a regional advisory board, the NKDF Society was incorporated on August 18, 1999.  The Minister for Small Business and Economic Development appoints Board members to represent the communities of the Nechako-Kitamaat area.

Who can apply to the Fund?

The investment area for the NKDF is normally limited to those areas with evidence of impacts from Alcan’s Nechako Reservoir and Kemano power project. Proposals may be accepted from other areas of Northwestern BC, provided the areas listed below receive economic benefits from the project.  We encourage applications from local governments and legally incorporated non-profit organizations serving the following communities and nearby rural areas:

• District of Vanderhoof
• Fort Fraser
• Village of Fraser Lake
• Stellat'en First Nation Village of Burns Lake
• Ootsa Lake
• Nadleh Whut’en Band
• Saik’uz First Nation
• Burns Lake Band
• Nee Tahi Buhn Band
• Skin Tyee Band
• Cheslatta Carrier Nation
• Kitamaat Village

Economic Development Grants

The grant program supports projects that address one or more of the following key aspects of economic development in the NKDF investment area: 

• Infrastructure: the public facilities, equipment or installations needed to support business, jobs, community stability and quality of life. Examples: lighting, water, sewer, transportation, telecommunications, recreation facilities and beautification.
• Planning and research: the background information a region or industry sector requires for making sound decisions about future investments. Examples: product testing, market research, needs assessments, surveys and strategic planning.
• Human development: the skills training that enable people and organizations to increase employment and economic activity. Examples: workshops and courses.
• Promotion and brokering: the process of building new organizations, partnerships and markets. Examples: marketing plans and joint ventures.

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Fit in the context of long-term community economic development plans;
• Enable a community to acquire public or private investment;
• Lead to long-term jobs in the region;
• Promote economic activity and remove constraints from the business sector in the investment area, without subsidizing any individual business;
• Have community buy-in, demonstrated by support letters and donations from local government and other organizations within the local community and;
• Have benefits continuing after the funding is gone.

Costs eligible for NKDF funding

The fund will not normally cover more than 50% of project costs. In-kind donations are acceptable at market rates and must be verifiable and documented by written commitments from donors.  Grants can be used towards:

• Contracted goods and services;
• Capital costs, materials and supplies, excluding the costs of land;
• Incremental labour (wages plus employer costs) and related costs such as supervision, travel, training and skill development;
• Rent or lease of facilities and equipment dedicated to the project; and
• Specific administrative costs to a maximum of 10% of grant request.

Inellegible projects

• Grants cannot be used to subsidize business or compete with private enterprise.
• Grants cannot be used to pay wages of employees doing their regular jobs.
• Grants will not be approved if funding is normally available from other sources.

Grant Applications Review and Assessment Process

The NKDF Society is governed by a volunteer board living in the investment area and appointed by the Minister of Economic Development. It is the board’s responsibility to make decisions about grants. The manager or board may ask outside experts for their advice. The Board evaluates the program guidelines annually and makes improvements as needed.  Please relay any concerns you have about the program to the Society's manager.

Step 1: Phone or e-mail the manager to verify the eligibility of your project and to confirm the next deadline for the submission of proposals.

Step 2: Prepare the proposal using the outline on the next page. If needed, ask the manager for assistance. There are proposal development funds available for projects that require professional assistance.

Step 3: Send the proposal to the Society electronically if possible, or by Canada Post or Greyhound. Please do not use couriers and do not bind the proposals. The manager will review it and ask for additional information until it is complete. Once the proposal is complete, the manager will include it in the package for the next board meeting.

Step 4: The board assesses each application against the following criteria:

• Consistency with the Society’s priorities (listed on the previous page) and completeness (see outline and checklist on following pages;
• Economic and social benefits to the identified community(s) in proportion to the size of the request;
• Clearly identified contributing funds / partners / personal equity;
• Clearly thought out work plan, timelines and evaluation framework;
• Experience and capability of the applicant to undertake the project; and
• Clear and realistic strategies for project management, especially for long-term projects.

Once the board reaches a decision:

• The Society manager will send a letter informing applicants of the decision within five working days. If approved, the project must be under contract within 6 months and activity must be started within 12 months or the offer is void. The manager will discuss conditions of funding with the applicant and will provide a legal agreement to be signed by both parties. This will include a timetable for grant payments and progress reports, methods for publicly recognizing the Society for the grant and methods for evaluating the project.
• Anyone who receives a grant from the Fund can expect a site visit or a meeting to monitor and assess the project.

Deadlines:

Complete grant applications must be received at least four weeks prior to each Board meeting. If they are received earlier, the manager may assist with revisions. The Board meets in January, March, May, July, September and November of each year.

COMMUNITY GRANT PROPOSAL OUTLINE

(This section describes the required format of Community Grant proposals.)

Please keep in mind that project proposals should be concise, preferably less than ten pages (additional documentation can be attached). Please ensure that you complete all categories below. Missing information will delay the review process.

Project Title

Project Summary

Provide a clear, concise description of the project in a page or less.

Purpose of the Project

Provide a brief statement outlining the goals of the project.

Project Description

Tell us about your organization, how long you have been operating, your mission, activities and accomplishments. If you have not applied before, please provide a copy of your constitution, certificate of incorporation and any promotional brochures.

Explain why the project is needed, and who will benefit from it.

Describe the expected long and short-term benefits and outcomes for the community as well as the degree of community support and/or involvement. Attach letters of support to your proposal.

Clearly demonstrate how the benefits of the project will be sustained after the grant has been spent.

Outline the proposed work plan for the project, including timeframes.

Describe your plan for providing public recognition of the Society’s contribution.

Evaluation

Include a clear evaluation plan, identifying when and how you will measure the project’s results and how you will communicate this to the NKDF Society.

Partners

The NKDF Society generally provides funding on a cost-shared basis. Applicants should seek partners to share costs and broaden expertise to make the project as successful as possible. Contributing funds may be in the form of labour, capital assets, or funds from a lending institution, government, business or individual contribution.

Identify your partners and ensure that they are confirmed for the project. Describe the status of any funding partners not yet officially confirmed. Clearly describe the roles of your partners in this project, as well as their specific contributions. A reasonable financial value should be assigned to support "in kind" items.

Budget

Provide a detailed breakdown of project expenditures, clearly indicating which items NKDF monies will be used for, and which costs or services your partners will pay for. Clearly state the amount of funding you are requesting from the NKDF Society and others, and when you expect a response from other funders.

Other

Provide any other relevant details that will help the Board to make a decision.

For example:

• previous investments made by your organization or others in support of this project;
• the project’s larger context, such as community priorities or strategies.

CHECKLIST - is your proposal complete?

Have you clearly provided / identified:	Yes	No
1. Information on your organization, including contact information?
2. The goals of your project?
3. Relevance to the NKDF Society's criteria and priorities?
4. Who will use/benefit from your project, and their needs?
5. The potential long and short term benefits of your project?
6. How the benefits will be sustained?
7. A realistic work plan with timeframes and management plan?
8. The anticipated outcomes / results?
9. An evaluation plan, showing how you will measure your results?
10. Who your partners are and what they will provide?
11. Have you listed all funding options explored and the results?
12. Have you considered and addressed all stakeholder concerns?
13. Who is paying for what parts of the project in your budget?
14. Quotes and estimates from suppliers supporting the budget?
15. Evidence of community support, including letters from municipal and First Nations governments and/or businesses?
16. How the NKDF's contribution will be recognized?

GRANT APPLICATION COVER PAGE

(Please attach this page to the front of your proposal.)

Project Title:

Name of Applicant:

Incorporation Number (if applicable):

Contact Person & Title:

Address:

Telephone:

Fax:

Email:

Names and Addresses of other persons / groups associated with this project:

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For official use only

Date Received:

Complete? Y / N           Approved / Not Approved