Round 3 of BC Rural Dividend Applications (April 3rd - May 31st)

Courtesy of the Province of BC:

Applications for funding under the recently extended BC Rural Dividend will be accepted April 3 – May 31, 2017.

Funding is available in four categories:

Community capacity building
Workforce development
Community and economic development and
Business sector development.

The Rural Dividend was established in April 2016, with input from the Rural Advisory Council, to help small rural communities reinvigorate and diversify their local economies. In its first year, the program has already provided over $24 million in economic development grants to local governments, First Nations and not-for-profit organizations throughout B.C.

Balanced Budget 2017 extended the $25 million per year Rural Dividend Fund for a fourth year into 2019-20, enhancing the Province’s resources to assist rural communities with a population of less than 25,000 residents.

Local governments, not-for-profit organizations and First Nations are encouraged to apply to the third intake of the BC Rural Dividend program. Single applicants can apply for up to $100,000 for community-driven projects and must contribute at least 20% of the total project cost. Partnerships involving more than one eligible applicant can apply for up to $500,000, and must contribute 40% of the total project cost.

Applicant contributions can include in-kind contributions of up to 10%. A project development funding stream will provide up to $10,000 to help communities with limited capacity build business cases and feasibility assessments to support the development of strong projects and future project applications.

Downloadable application forms, a revised program guide, as well as detailed instructions on how to apply will be available as of March 31, 2017, at the BC Rural Dividend website: www.gov.bc.ca/ruraldividend

The Rural Dividend Fund is one of the key ways the B.C. government is taking action to strengthen, grow and diversify rural communities. The Rural Dividend builds on the immediate investments and long-term action plan outlined in B.C.’s Rural Economic Development Strategy that are expected to create over 26,000 jobs and add $2.8 billion to provincial GDP.

The Hon. Donna Barnett - BC's Minister of State for Rural Economic Development said:

“Investing in rural communities is a key priority for our government. The Rural Dividend is already making a difference by diversifying the economy and creating jobs in small rural communities, I encourage more local governments, community organizations and First Nations to apply in this next round.”

Learn More:

A full list of grant recipients and details of each project is available at: http://ow.ly/Budy30a5tsv

BC Rural Dividend: www.gov.bc.ca/ruraldividend

Rural Advisory Council: http://ow.ly/NFhU301MfRv

BC Rural Economic Development Strategy: https://bcjobsplan.gov.bc.ca/b-c-s-rural-economic-development-strategy/