The province and the Northern Development Initiative Trust have partnered together to help communities like Kitimat who are experiencing rapid economic growth.
The fund will provide $25 million to eligible local governments, First Nations and non-profit organizations that provide critical supports and services to people in growing communities near the LNG Canada and Coastal GasLink projects.
The Province plans to help create community workshops through the Kitamaat Valley Education Society Leadership Training Initiative which will provide strategies for leaders, industry partners and small business owners to manage and lead organizations into the future.
The province also plans on helping the Regional District of Kitimat Stikine for a First Nations liaison to build relationships and increase collaboration on mutual interests with Indigenous governments and partners in the region.
“The Northwest has experienced rapid economic growth with an increasing need for essential services. This investment from our government will expand critical services such as child care, health care, mental health and addictions counselling, supportive housing and so much more. This way we can continue to support people in our resilient and growing communities,” Nathan Cullen, MLA for Stikine said.
“We’re partnering with the Northern Development Initiative Trust to help First Nations, local governments and service organizations meet the needs of families in fast-growing communities. Our government is supporting the building blocks of healthy, sustainable and resilient communities by boosting the services people count on, like child care, health, mental health and addictions counselling, and small business recruitment,” Josie Osborne, minister of municipal affairs said.
For the first round of funding, two million dollars will be spread out across 16 projects to support people through social services, mental health programs, and health programs.
Communities and organizations will receive funding over the next five years which will be disbursed quarterly through a series of intakes.
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