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Another round of RBCRI funding announced
More funding is being made available to hire advisers through the province’s Rural Business and Community Recovery Initiative (RBCRI).
The Government of B.C. announced today it is providing $4.5 million to support a second round of RBCRI funding. This builds on the initial $4.5 million provided in February 2021 that helped rural communities and businesses recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding created 90 temporary advisory jobs focused on providing support and services to the regions throughout the province that needed it most.
The second round of the RBCRI funding will shift from concentrating on pandemic recoveries to supporting economic development in communities affected by changes to the forest sector. Advisers will provide support to businesses and communities, which will increase community and regional adaptation, resilience and sustainability.
“Strengthening rural B.C. is key to ensuring our province can build a strong and sustainable economy that works for everyone,” said Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation. “Providing more funding for advisers to continue working side by side with local communities and businesses will help ensure access to supports for economic development services and strategies.”
Funding for the RBCRI is part of the $185-million support package announced in Budget 2022 to ensure that co-ordinated and comprehensive supports are in place to offset any economic impacts from a changing forestry industry.
The funding will be distributed through regional programs administered by the Economic Trust of the Southern Interior, the Northern Development Initiative Trust, and the Island Coastal Economic Trust. Each trust will receive $1.5 million.
“We’re delighted to deliver this new program on behalf of the Province of B.C., which will support the businesses and communities in B.C.’s southern Interior. This new funding will help business support organizations, First Nations and communities in our region to engage advisers who will assist their local businesses and help strengthen local economies,” said Laurel Douglas, CEO, Economic Trust of the Southern Interior.
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