The B.C. government is providing more than $395,000 in community resiliency investment grants to support projects in the Prince George Fire Centre.
“Community resiliency investment funding will help Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities increase their resiliency to wildfire threats,” said Doug Donaldson, Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, in a news release. “The program is designed to support projects at the local level to help keep British Columbians safe.”
This funding is part of more than $6 million in community resiliency investment grants provided to 85 municipalities, regional districts and First Nations throughout the province.
The community resiliency investment program was established in September 2018 with $50 million to assist local governments and First Nations to lower wildfire risks around their communities. As part of Budget 2019, the B.C. government has provided an additional $10 million.
A key component of the program is that it lets communities apply for funding to cover up to 100 per cent of a wildfire risk reduction project. Eligible applicants facing a lower wildfire risk can apply for up to $25,000, while applicants facing a demonstrated higher wildfire risk can apply for up to $100,000.
Recipients of community resiliency investment grants in the Prince George Fire Centre include:
- Mackenzie: $181,450 to assist with fuel and vegetation management, and FireSmart activities on private land
- Fort Nelson First Nation: $100,000 to assist with education, fuel and vegetation management, and FireSmart activities on private land
- Kwadacha Nation: $98,665 to assist with development, and fuel and vegetation management
- Tsay Keh Dene Nation: $15,660 to assist with education and planning