POWELL RIVER, BC – The qathet Regional District (qRD) is pleased to announce the receipt of $100,000 in grant funding from the Province of British Columbia through the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) to support the wages of a full-time Economic Development Coordinator over the next two years to help the qRD build internal capacity for economic development.
The REDIP grant will provide 100 percent funding towards eligible salary costs up to a maximum funding contribution of $100,000. The Provincial Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation has introduced the REDIP program to support projects that promote economic diversification, community resilience, clean growth opportunities, and infrastructure development. For more information on this program, please visit the Province of BC website.
Economic Development continues to be an area of focus for the qRD, with specific exploration of areas developing regional and sub-regional strategic opportunities for economic development, promoting and marketing the region’s competitive advantage, and ensuring opportunity readiness as well as the possibility of co-creation and co-management partnership opportunities with neighbouring First Nation governments.
“These types of projects are complex and multifaceted, and require a considerable amount of staff time to get off the ground,” said Chief Administrative Officer, Al Radke. “A full-time contractor dedicated to supporting these initiatives ensures staff time will be devoted to advancing our regional economic development goals, free from distraction from competing work tasks.”
“With the Catalyst Paper tiskʷat Mill shutdown, there is no question that we must work together with community members, partners and neighbouring First Nation governments to diversify our local economy and remain resilient,” said Regional District Board Chair, Clay Brander. “We are thrilled to have a dedicated staff person to help the qRD produce a road map to shared economic sustainability in our region.”
About the qathet Regional District:
The qathet Regional District serves the rural areas from Lund to Saltery Bay including the City of Powell River, Texada, Savary and Lasqueti Islands and provides some services, through contract, to Tla’amin Nation. To learn more please visit qathet.ca.
CONTACT:
Al Radke, Chief Administrative Officer
#202 – 4675 Marine Avenue Powell River, BC V8A 2L2
Phone: 604-485-2260 | Email: administration@qathet.ca