VANDERHOOF / BURNS LAKE / KITAMAAT - Seven northern communities, from Vanderhoof to Kitamaat Village, will share nearly $500,000 in funds from the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society (NKDFS) for various economic development projects. The total funding approved so far this fiscal year is $725,800. “This is exactly what we are in business to do,” said Society Chair Dave Merz. “The communities make our jobs easier when they send us solid projects like these. This has been a great year so far, and there is still room to approve more funding for economic development projects.”
“This funding is welcome in our region, as it stimulates growth and development opportunities right here,” says Skeena MLA Roger Harris. “Communities are being provided with tools to strengthen their economies from within. Kitamaat Village, for example, has some innovative plans that could benefit us all, and this will give them a chance to do that.”
The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Society will approve at least $1 million of investment in community economic development projects before the end of this fiscal year, March 31, 2004. Another $1 million in funding is proposed for the following year.
“We have vibrant, creative people in our area and these projects are proof of that,” said Dennis MacKay, MLA for Bulkley Valley-Stikine. “This money will help build our economy on a local foundation.”
“It is reassuring to see the fruits of everyone's labour paying off,” said Richard Prokopanko, Alcan Director of Corporate Affairs, British Columbia. “This fund is delivering exactly what it was intended to do - creating economic opportunities across the region from Kitimaat to Vanderhoof “.
The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society is a non-profit society currently governed by six directors and staffed by one part-time manager. The society works to promote and enhance sustainable economic development in British Columbia’s northwestern communities, particularly those affected by the Kitimaat-Kemano project and the creation of the Nechako Reservoir.
The Government of B.C. and Alcan Inc. each contributed $7.5 million to establish the Northern Development Fund in 1999. The investment income generated from this fund supports the grants program.
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| Burns Lake and District Economic Development Association | Regional Marketing Plan | $25,000 |
| Community Futures Development Corporation of Stuart Nechako | Regional Economic Development Initiative | $27,000 |
| Kitamaat Education Society | Community Park | $45,000 |
| Kitamaat Village Council | Forest Business Development | $25,000 |
| Na na kila Institute Society (Kitamaat) | Community Hall Upgrade | $163,000 |
| Na na kila Institute Society (Kitamaat) | Community Economic Development Projects | $64,300 |
| Nee Tahi Buhn First Nation | Forest Business Development | $60,000 |
| Regional District of Bulkley-Nechako | Fraser Water System Upgrade | $53,000 |
| Skin Tyee First Nation | Forestry Training | $31,000 |
| Southside Economic Development Association | Community Economic Development Training | $4,000 |
Contact: Lisa Dunn, Manager, Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society
The Fraser Lake & Area Menshed Society we feel has been a great success, largely due to the grant for our shop addition from the NKDF. Without the grant we would not have had the courage to proceed with its...