As part of B.C.’s $10-billion COVID-19 response, grants supporting businesses and communities totalling $20 million for 38 rural projects have been approved, including two in the Columbia Valley.

The Columbia Valley Greenways Trail Alliance’s Invermere to Radium project – Eagle Ranch Segment is getting $976,455. The project in Regional District of East Kootenay areas F and G is a shovel-ready, six-section expansion of the legacy trail.

And the District of Invermere is getting $983,000 for Athalmer Destination Trails – destination trails and boardwalks to connect existing sidewalks and trails.

“We are working to support economic recovery in every corner of the province, so families and communities can get through the pandemic and start looking towards their futures again,” said Premier John Horgan. “These shovel-ready projects will put people living in rural British Columbia back to work immediately and support building diversified economies in their communities.”

Rural Economic Recovery (RER) program grants will support communities recovering from the economic impacts of COVID-19 and build their economies for the future, a Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development media release stated.

“This has been a challenging year for British Columbians, and the remoteness of some rural communities can mean additional challenges. These grants will have a positive impact as communities manage through COVID-19 and beyond,” said Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development.

The RER funding is part of $100 million of restart money administered through the provincially funded Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program (CERIP). CERIP provides fully funded provincial grants to support economic resilience, tourism, heritage and urban and rural economic development projects in communities impacted by COVID-19.

Columbia Valley Greenways Trail Alliance photo

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