The province is providing more than $407,000 to groups and local governments in the Cowichan Valley for a variety of projects.
They include $100,000 for the Vancouver Island Economic Alliance to pilot a wood recovery and fuel reduction project; $99,450 to the Downtown Duncan Business Improvement Area Society to help build the resources, capabilities and capacity of the downtown business community; and $86,776 to Community Futures Development Corp. Cowichan to establish a not-for-profit corporation to lead the vision, planning and development of a destination trail network in the Cowichan Lake region.
As well, the Cowichan Valley Regional District is being awarded $16,000 to develop a tech training program for youth in Duncan and Cowichan First Nations communities; the O.U.R. Ecovillage Cooperative is being awarded $10,000 to create a best practices document to track and share the accomplishments of the model sustainable village demonstration site and education centre near Shawnigan Lake; and the Penelakut Tribe is being awarded $95,520 to support development of a trail network on Penelakut Island
“These projects offer a wide range of benefits for residents and businesses,” said Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan.
“They will lead to more jobs and tourism opportunities by supporting new trail networks, improving wood waste recovery, strengthening Duncan’s business community and developing tech training for youth.”
Almost $19 million in 153 single-applicant and partnership project grants are being awarded to eligible local governments, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations through the Rural Dividend Program.
These grants help fund projects that support economic development and diversification in rural communities throughout the province.
Grants can be up to $100,000 for a single-applicant project or up to $500,000 for partnership projects.
