Prince George, B.C.- A number of Northern communities  are receiving the  rural dividend from the Province for a variety of projects.

A total of 180 applications were received from a cross-section of communities, not-for-profit organizations and First Nations from around the province during the first application intake. A second application intake runs to Oct. 31, 2016.

• Village of McBride -$100,000   for new mountain bike trails for the McBride Peak and Teare Mountain Trail Network. The project will also include a work-related training component.
• The District of Mackenzie is being awarded $100,000 to upgrade the popular Morfee Lake Trail route.
• The Tsay Keh Dene Band receives $90,000 to build a trades centre for carpentry training.
• The Kwadacha Nation gets $500,000 to install and operate a biomass energy system to produce electricity and heat in Fort Ware.  This project is in partnership with several other  organizations
• District of Chetwynd is being awarded $48,000 to develop an economic development strategy review for future development plans and their associated economic impact.

These are among 73 successful grants, totalling over $8 million, being awarded to eligible communities under the three-year, $75-million, BC Rural Dividend.

Under the guidelines of the BC Rural Dividend, single applicants can apply for up to $100,000 for community-driven projects and must contribute at least 20% of the total project cost. Applicants representing partnerships can apply for up to $500,000 and must contribute 40% of the total project cost.