The Nechako Kitamaat Development Fund Society (NKDF) board of directors has approved funding for projects in Burns Lake, Fraser Lake and Vanderhoof areas, bringing the total approved amount for this fiscal year to $75,090.
NKDF has granted; $23,288 to the Burns Lake Mountain Bike Association for construction of the Stearns Creek epic trail; $9,507 to Nechako Valley Search and Rescue for construction of a mobile command centre; $12,660 to Regional District of Bulkley Nechako to go toward upgrading the Burns Lake Legion branch number 50; $3,587 to Regional District of Bulkley Nechako to assist regional farmer’s markets by installing signage at visible locations; $2,000 to Stellat’en First Nation for the second year of data collection for a wind energy evaluation; $17,698 to Stellat’en First Nation to implement a social enterprise cottage industry project in the community and $6,350 to Nechako Marketing Development Society to build capacity and develop a strategic plan.
NKDF chair Rosanne Murray said, “It’s inspiring to see the variety of projects arising from the efforts of hard-working people in each community.”
Colleen Nyce, Rio Tinto Alcan manager of corporate affairs and community relations notes the diversity of the successful projects for the watershed region and offers her best wishes and congratulations to the proponents.
NKDF was jointly established in 1997 with a combined contribution of $15 million by the government of British Columbia and the former Alcan Inc., now Rio Tinto Alcan.
The fund’s investment area includes lands impacted by the original Kemano project and focuses on those communities in the Nechako and Haisla regions of the North.
The society encourages applications from local governments and legally incorporated non profit organizations. NKDF invests in projects that create sustainable employment, diversify the economy, and improve the basic infrastructure needed for community stability, quality of life and growth.