Kitamaat and Nechako Communities Approved for Funding
AUG 24, 2010

The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society Board of Directors has approved funding for projects in Vanderhoof and Burns Lake, bringing the total approved amount for this fiscal year to $181,539.

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The successful projects approved are:

• $75,000 approved for Nechako View Senior Citizen’s Home Society to assist with construction of a triplex and common room for seniors in Vanderhoof.
• $35,000 approved for Vanderhoof Volunteer Extrication Association to assist with the purchase of a new rescue vehicle to make highways and roads safer in Vanderhoof and the surrounding area.
• $3,500 approved for Nechako Valley Exhibition Society to assist with upgrades to the facilities at the exhibition grounds in Vanderhoof.
• $20,000 approved to Regional District of Bulkley Nechako for the Kinette Park Revitalization in Burns Lake.
• $34,086 approved to Eagle Creek Recreation Commission to assist with upgrades to the fall fair grounds in Burns Lake.
• $13,953 to Burns Lake Mountain Bike Association to assist with completion of an 880 meter advanced jump trail to the Bike Park in Burns Lake.

NKDF Society Chair Bob Clark said, "It’s encouraging to see community members investing the necessary energy to bring good projects forward. We are honoured to be able to assist with a range of projects across the region.”

“All of these projects are significant in building our community and I’m thankful for Rio Tinto Alcan’s partnership to help bring them to fruition,” says Nechako Lake MLA John Rustad. 

“Congratulations to the communities in the Regional District of Bulkley Nechako for achieving successful approval of their various proposals to the NKDFS”, said Rio Tinto Alcan’s Manager of Corporate Affairs & Community Relations, Colleen Nyce. “These are all good community projects and its great to know that the funds that have come about as a result of the original Alcan project are being used to the benefit of the region”, she adds.

The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society 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.