NKDF grants $93,327 for Five Projects in Vanderhoof, Burns Lake and Fraser Lake
DEC 19, 2018

At the December 10th, 2018 meeting of the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society Board, Directors approved $93,327 in funding for five projects. The following grants were awarded to new projects:

 

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At the December 10th, 2018 meeting of the Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society Board, Directors approved $93,327 in funding for five projects.

The following grants were awarded to new projects:

• An amount of $10,000 was awarded to the Vanderhoof Menshed Society for the purchase of a Fork Lift, which will enable the Menshed Society to take on projects for the benefit of the greater community.
• The Lakes District Fair Association was granted $17,327 toward drilling a new well and building a pump house at the Exhibition Grounds in Burns Lake.

The following subsequent grants were awarded to projects that were previously approved for funding by NKDF:

• The District of Vanderhoof was approved an additional funding amount of $50,000 for the Airport Apron Expansion project. This funding will assist with widening the apron at the Vanderhoof airport to accommodate increasing traffic. The total NKDF contribution to this project will be $104,787.
• The District of Vanderhoof was approved an additional funding amount of $5,000 which will support upgrades to the washroom facility at the baseball diamonds. The total NKDF contribution to this project will be $10,000.
• The Village of Fraser Lake was granted an additional funding amount of $11,000 for the Fraser Lake Community Transportation Vehicle Garage Project. This funding will assist with construction of a heated garage that will house the community bus. The community bus operates two scheduled routes per week which bring residents from neighboring communities to Fraser Lake for medical appointments, shopping, and other services. The total NKDF contribution to this project will be $39,997.

“The NKDF grants support local projects that help create jobs and a better quality of life for people in the North-Central Interior,” said Bruce Ralston, Minister of Jobs, Trade and Technology. “Supporting these projects shows that putting people first can contribute to a vibrant and diverse economy where the community benefits in several ways.”

Andrew Czornohalan Operations Director – Power & Services Rio Tinto Aluminium, British Columbia Works says, “Rio Tinto is a proud partner of Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund and the opportunities it offers to community projects. The collaboration of community volunteers, local leaders and funding partners such as NKDF, bring together shared value for the benefit of progressing projects important to supporting economic development and community sustainability within our operational footprint. Local representatives that comprise the Board, know their region the best which allows them to allocate funds to projects that make a difference in their communities. Congratulations to the approved recipients and thank you for the work you are doing to build your community.”

“The Board of Directors is pleased to again have such a diverse set of applications,” says Wayne Salewski, Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society Chair. “These projects, benefitting agriculture to airports, will make a difference to both the quality of life and the economics of the region.”

These new approvals bring the total Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society grants awarded for the 2018-2019 funding cycle to $398,264. NKDF grants $500,000 each funding cycle. The next application deadline is February 6th, 2019. For more information please visit http://www.nkdf.org/

For more information on past projects funded throughout the NKDF investment area please visit http://www.nkdf.org/projects or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NKDFS

The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society was jointly established in 1997 with a combined contribution of $15 million by the government of British Columbia and the former Alcan Inc., now Rio Tinto. The Fund’s investment area includes lands impacted by the original Kemano project and focuses on the communities in the Ootsa, Lakes, Nechako and Haisla regions of the north.

The Society encourages applications from local governments and legally incorporated non-profit organizations. NKDF invests in projects that create sustainable employment, diversify the economy, and improve the basic infrastructure needed for community stability, quality of life and growth.