Interested in getting a share of the $100,000 that Wells Gray Community Forest plans to give away this fall?
Applications will be accepted from Aug. 1 until Sept. 15, according to WGCF spokesperson Richard Christenson.
“We invite everyone to apply,” he said. “We have no preconceptions on how the money should be used. That’s not our role. We’re trying to make this easy and accessible. There are formalities to it, but nothing is cut in stone.”
The money will be allocated with 25 per cent to go towards meeting the social needs of Wells Gray Country (including the District of Clearwater).
The next 50 per cent will be available as matching funds for capital infrastructure improvements.
“When you get matching funds, you show you’re not just begging for money, plus it doubles the benefit for the community,” said Christenson.
The remaining 25 per cent could be used for accumulating for larger projects that benefit Wells Gray Country and Clearwater.
“In other words, it wouldn’t have to be spent all at once,” said the WGCF spokesperson. “It could go into an account that could build up over several years for a major project.”
The hope is that the community forest will be able to make grants available twice a year on an ongoing basis, he said.
Applications for the spring allocation will be accepted from Feb. 1 to Mar. 15.
Christenson was not sure how much money will be available then but predicted it probably also will be substantial.
After many years in the formative stage, Wells Gray Community Forest began harvesting about three years ago.
Recently the provincial government extended its provisional five-year license to a 25-year term.
Application forms will be available on the community forest’s website at www.wgcfc.ca or at the North Thompson Community Resource Center. The forms can be dropped off at the CRC as well.
