The Province is providing about $140,000 to 14 community organizations and First Nations in the Cariboo.
The funding is part of some $700,000 in project-development grants being awarded to eligible local governments, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations under the BC Rural Dividend program. These grants, of up to $10,000 each, are intended to help rural communities develop projects to stabilize their economies and create long-term local employment.
Several of these funding projects will help Quesnel and area local governments and groups.
• The North Cariboo Agricultural Marketing Association in Quesnel is being awarded $10,000 to help the newly formed North Cariboo Agricultural Development Advisory Committee establish a Quesnel Agriculture Centre that will encourage retention, expansion and development of agri-businesses and farms in the region by providing a knowledge hub for best practices.
• The Cariboo Mining Association in Quesnel is being awarded $10,000 to produce a Placer Mining Best Management Practices Guide to cover the basics of prospecting – with one document for hand operations and one for mechanical operations.
• The City of Quesnel is being awarded $10,000 to prepare an economic transition strategy for the City with measurable objectives, timelines and action steps.
• The District of Wells is being awarded $10,000 to complete a business recruitment, retention and expansion strategy to identify ways to support existing businesses and attract new ones.
• The Island Mountain Arts Society in Wells is being awarded $9,950 to purchase donor management systems and find other ways to increase the sources and types of funding to offset annual operations.
• The Pet Safe Coalition Society of Canada in Quesnel is being awarded $10,000 to develop a post-wildfire strategic plan so it can identify ways to more effectively prepare for future disasters.
• The Quesnel and District Heritage Association is being awarded $10,000 for a 10-year strategic plan to develop the Quesnel Antique Machinery Park into an attractive historical tourism destination for the North Cariboo.
• The Quesnel Crafters Society is being awarded $10,000 to create a marketing plan to expand their market for high-quality art and artisan products, and increase opportunities for their Cariboo Keepsakes retail store.
• The Quesnel Rodeo Club is being awarded $10,000 for a marketing strategy that identifies opportunities, potential partners and strategies to reach future participants and potential audiences.
• The Sunset Theatre Society in Wells is being awarded $10,000 to assess the requirements for a touring and outreach program to bring plays developed by First Nations artists through its exploration series to the Cariboo Region and beyond.