The Sea to Sky Corridor will be able to get up to $200,000 in funding from the federal government as it provided $3 million to Community Futures British Columbia to carry out their Rural Economic Diversification Initiative (REDI-BC.) The program funds projects that help BC's smaller communities adapt, become more productive, competitive and diverse.
Kelowna-Lake Country MP Ron Cannan made the funding announcement on behalf of the federal government Jan. 8. Organizations will now be able to apply for funding to cover 60 per cent of project costs - up to $200,000.
In order to qualify for the funding, projects must address one or more of the following Western Economic Diversification priorities: technology commercialization; trade and investment; business productivity and competitiveness or rural diversification.
"I think this announcement will impact the entire Sea to Sky Corridor. It serves as another opportunity for rural regions to access federal dollars," said Jeff Dawson, Community Futures - Howe Sound general manager.
Dawson admits that it is often tough to find money for community projects but the REDI-BC program allows organizations to access much-needed dollars.
"I think we need to put forward projects that are important for this region. Whatever they look like, I am hoping we can embrace those projects and find ways to make them happen," Dawson said.
Dawson said the government announcement also means that organizations in the Sea to Sky will need to work together to come up with economic diversification projects.
"Community Futures hopes to work with groups like local municipal governments as well as economic agricultural and tourism organizations on a project that will diversify the local economy, keep people here and bring new talent in," Dawson said.
