Tofino has received $500,000 to design the first phase of an affordable housing project that the district is working on with the Tofino Bible Fellowship and Tofino Housing Corporation to create 50 new housing units in the community.
The funding is coming from the BC Rural Dividend Program, which announced $769,680 for three projects on Tuesday.
Along with Tofino’s housing project, the Clayoquot Biosphere Trust is receiving $202,580 to continue its work promoting educational tourism opportunities and market expansion through its West Coast N.E.S.T. initiative and the Alberni Chamber of Commerce has been awarded $67,100 to provide entrepreneurial training for business owners, according to a media release announcing the funding on Tuesday.
“By listening to rural communities, we are able to support projects that deliver wide-ranging local benefits,” said Mid Island – Pacific Rim MLA Scott Fraser. “These three projects alone will support business entrepreneurs, expand tourism opportunities, and deliver much-needed affordable housing.”
West Coast N.E.S.T. Education Coordinator Nicole Gerbrandt told the Westerly News that she’s excited to see the funding support the continued growth, and increase awareness, of the region’s educational events, courses and opportunities.
“Over the past year there’s been more than 30 local organizations and businesses that have promoted their courses and learning experiences using the N.E.S.T website,” she said. “It’s been really well received and the organizations appreciate the extra coverage.”
She added the funds will also go towards building local capacity through skills development and training courses to help locals, particularly youth, grab hold of diversified jobs opportunities.
“We’re kind of maxed out in visitors in the summer, there’s no problem there. Our goal is to increase visitation in the offseason by attracting more school groups or groups of people coming for learning experiences and also to share the prosperity through different partnerships,” she said.
She added that the program has partnered with Ucluelet Secondary School, Ucluelet Aquarium, Royal Road University and Ahousaht’s Aauuknuk Lodge.
“We’re open to more conversations in the future for sure,” she said.
B.C. Rural Dividend funding is designed to encourage economic diversification, innovation, sustainability and collaboration, and recognizes the diverse needs of individual communities, according to the release.
“Government is following through on its commitment to help rural communities navigate changes that have impacted local economies, by supporting local business development and creating new partnerships to promote shared prosperity,” said Rural Development Minister Doug Donaldson. “These rural dividend grants are bringing positive change to rural communities throughout B.C.”
This story will be updated as more information comes in.