Eight community projects will benefit from Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund (NKDF) Society grants.
Funded projects range from fire suppression equipment to assistance for building a community's new reservoir.
The society is giving out $140,374 and said in a June 6 news release a total of $385,000 is available for grants between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.
“We are pleased to start this funding cycle with grants for an incredible variety of projects that support healthy communities and fire suppression efforts and provide important recreational opportunities for residents to come together and celebrate," noted NKDF chair Cindy Shelford. "The NKDF board of directors is proud to call this region home.”
Three projects in Vanderhoof were approved.
A grant of $8,400 is going to the 50-year-old Gospel Evangelical Free Church Society to upgrades its church exterior. In addition to regular church services, the building is used by community and school groups.
Vanderhoof International Airshow Society is receiving $5,000 toward hosting The Masters of the Air exhibition on Aug. 3, 2024. The public will have the opportunity to take flights in the B17 Flying Fortress, P51D Mustang, Harvard Mk4 and P-40E Kitty Hawk.
Two greenhouses will be built at the Nechako View Seniors complex for residents by the Nechako View Seniors Citizens Home Society who will receive a grant of $4,700.
A $50,000 grant will assist the Village of Fraser Lake in its efforts to construct a new water reservoir. Last fall the village received $2.182 million of government funding to upgrade the community’s aging water system, which the water reservoir is part of. Other aspects of the project include improving the mixing system, valves and pipe connections and upgrading the control building and electrical components - all for reliable drinking water for the village.
Cheslatta Carrier First Nation will use its $10,000 grant toward purchasing a drone and obtaining drone pilot training and certification to be used by its fire protection team. The drone will allow the team to proactively respond to wildfire threats by check lightning strikes, fireguards and holdover fires for hot spots.
Haisla Nation Council received $47,274 toward the purchase of bunker gear and hoses for the volunteer fire department, which also provides medical services.
The $10,000 grant for Lake Native Development Corporation will help the corporation host the 25th Annual National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration in Burns Lake June 18 to 22, 2024. There will be a barbecue, parade, gala dinner and dance.
Burns Lake Youth Soccer Association was granted $5,000 to purchase new nets, part of a project to upgrade all the nets so they can have high quality nets and host more tournaments.
The next application deadline is July 31, 2024. More information can be found at http://www.nkdf.org.
Some of the projects above were awarded funding through the under $5,000 category.
Those applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
Jointly established in 1997 after a combined contribution of $15 million from the B.C. government and the former Alcan Inc, now Rio Tinto, the NKDF's investment area is for lands impacted by the Kemano project, especially communities in the Oosta, Lakes, Nechako and Haisla regions of the north.
Applications are encouraged from local governments, local First Nations 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," noted the news release.
