This e-mail is one of an ongoing series of information updates from Rural
1. Food Security Grants - Thanks to joint newsletter of BC Healthy Communities and the BC Healthy Living Alliance - Community Initiative National Grant Program to Promote Food Security - The Epicure Foundation is committed to promoting food security in Canada by supporting Community Initiatives which help provide adequate physical and economic assess to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meet dietary requirements in order to sustain an active healthy lifestyle. To this end, the Epicure Foundation has launched it's second Community Initiative National Grant program; awarding grants of up to $5,000 to CI's across
2. Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program - WICWP is a three-year pilot initiative which supports WelcomeBC by fostering inclusive, welcoming and vibrant communities in British Columbia where immigrants can realize their full potential, racism is eliminated, and cultural diversity is valued and celebrated. WICWP has four community-level program elements that focus on immigration, multiculturalism, workplace diversity and issues related to building and sustaining welcoming and inclusive communities. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Knowledge Development & Exchange, Public Education, and Demonstration Projects has been posted on the BC Bid website, which will close on January 15, 2009. For more information, please visit the BC Bid website or review the Welcoming and Inclusive Communities and Workplaces Program Guidelines on the WelcomeBC website at: http://www.welcomebc.ca/en/service_providers/wicwp.html Please note that questions related to this RFQ must be directed in writing to Liz Lowe, Manager Procurement Advisory Services by facsimile at: (250) 387-7309 or by e-mail at: purchasing@gov.bc.ca.
3. Looking for a technical assistance grant for social enterprise in BC? Pre-qualify for an enp BC grant by attending a workshop this spring. Enp will host its social enterprise orientation sessions in
4. Independent Power Projects – Many wild creeks around the province are being used to generate new sources of electricity for BC. These small private projects can generate significant electricity. On the down side, these projects may require the diversion of up to 90% of the creek’s water, diversion may be through new tunnels (large enough to drive a truck through), and clear cutting is necessary to run the power lines to the grid. Benefits to the local citizens other than the construction jobs are minimal. Educate yourself on the issues. Here is one government and one non-government source of information…
5. School Community Connections provides grants! - The School Community Connections program provides grants of up to $8000.00 to assist in transforming school facilities into vital, lively hubs for community activities and services. Applications must be jointly submitted by a school district and a local municipality. Deadline for submissions has been extended to the end of February. For more information or to learn about the types of projects that have been funded visit http://www.schoolconnections.ca/.
6. Sustainability Conference - With more than 100 speakers from the public, private, non-profit, and academic sectors. Featured Topics Include:
SustainAble Agriculture / SustainAble Business /Community SustainAbility (for local governments). To register, visit www.regonline.ca/bsc2009
Host & Facilitator: Fresh Outlook Foundation
www.freshoutlookfoundation.org • Email: jo@freshoutlookfoundation.org • Phone: 250-766-1777
7. Rural BC Secretariat - At the 2008 Union of British Columbia Municipalities Convention, Premier Gordon Campbell announced the creation of the RuralBC Secretariat, which is working hand-in-hand with rural B.C. communities to ensure they each have the tools to achieve their unique vision for the future. The RuralBC Secretariat within the Ministry of Community Development provides a direct service and information link between the provincial government and B.C.'s rural communities.
For example, this website offers local governments, regional districts, communities and families access to funding and assistance programs on-line. http://www.ruralbc.gov.bc.ca/
8. ForedBC - FORED operates on the assumption that informed citizens need to be environmentally literate. The association works with community stakeholders of all ages to achieve that goal. What is meant by environmental literacy? In brief, it means having the ability to grasp the basic concepts: scientific, economic and social that surround environmental issues and their consequences. Decisions made today in towns and cities involving roads and zoning will have environmental impacts for a generation. If citizens don't have a basic understanding of any of these debates, they will reward, reject or ignore decision-makers at their peril. Conversely, these same decision-makers, if guided by an informed electorate, will make better environmental choices. http://www.landscapesmag.com/common/main.cfm
9. Northern Development Funding Opportunities - Northern Development is an independent regional economic development corporation focused on stimulating economic diversification and job creation in central and northern British Columbia, a region that is strategically located, and offers a resource-rich economy with many competitive advantages and incentives for business. As the leading economic development agency in the region, Northern Development will be the catalyst to inject $2 billion every decade into communities within the region to realize their economic potential. The corporation supports community economic development initiatives with funding for economic diversification infrastructure, feasibility studies, marketing, capacity building, grant writing, community halls, recreational facilities, and community foundations
http://www.northerndevelopment.bc.ca/
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11. Funding for Heritage Projects – In honour of BC150, the Province is providing $1.7 million to celebrate and recognize the significant role that heritage plays in the provincial economy, Tourism, Culture and the Arts Minister Bill Bennett announced today. This funding is provided in partnership with the federal government’s Department of Canadian Heritage, in support of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Crown Colony of British Columbia in 1858. The funding is to be allocated in two ways. One million dollars will be provided to support community heritage projects through one-time grants of up to $20,000. This funding will be administered by the Heritage Legacy Fund of British Columbia Society and available to registered non-profit societies, registered federal charities and local governments for the creation of heritage legacy projects throughout the province. Projects can include presentations, demonstrations, school tours, historical research, first-person interpretations of people, special events, and minor preservation and maintenance work to heritage sites. The remaining $700,000 will be provided to the community-based managers of provincial heritage properties such as Barkerville,
Brandon Hughes
Regional Policy Advisor
Canadian Rural Partnership/Service
P - 250-354-3178
