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| Q | Who is the Secretariat’s RuralBC website designed for? |
| A | The website offers local governments, communities, workers and their families, access to funding and assistance programs. The site also provides contact information for community-specific assistance through our regional economic development offices. |
| Q | Which Ministry is the RuralBC Secretariat with? |
| A | The Ministry of Community Development is home to many of the tools needed by B.C.’s rural communities to meet the challenges of the current economic downturn and take advantage of opportunities for diversification.
Ministry staff work directly with local governments; provide support for regional economic development and community transition; help communities affected by the impact of the mountain pine beetle; and support forest workers through the Community Development Trust. The Secretariat facilitates access to these tools. |
| Q | Do you have regional offices? |
| A | Yes, we do. The Secretariat has regional managers located in Nanaimo, Prince Rupert, Smithers, Prince George, Courtenay, Kamloops, Cranbrook and Dawson Creek/Fort. St. John.
Our regional offices use a pro-active, co-ordinated and focused approach to provide community-specific assistance. They are well-positioned to access provincial and federal programs on your behalf. Whether a community’s local government is interested in applying for provincial and federal funding, or the community is planning to develop or enhance an economic renewal or diversification strategy, the Secretariat’s regional managers can help identify the most appropriate programs and sources of funding. See our contacts page for complete details. You may also contact us through the toll-free Enquiry BC phone lines. |
| Q | Who else do you work with? |
| A | The Secretariat also draws on the services and expertise of the Ministry’s Pine Beetle Epidemic Response Team and the Community Development Trust.
Secretariat staff are already working closely with these Divisions. For example, the Community Development Trust and the Secretariat are both active in Mackenzie, Fort. St. James and Grand Forks to support community and worker transition. The regional staff will be working closely with the pine beetle epidemic response team in the pine beetle impacted communities. |
| Q | The mill where I worked for 16 years is closing soon. Can the Secretariat help me find work or upgrade my employment skills? |
| A | The Community Development Trust is providing new opportunities to forest workers.
Launched in spring 2008, the Trust is a three year initiative that responds to difficult forest sector market conditions. It creates new job opportunities, helps forest workers upgrade their skills, and enables older workers who wish to retire to create opportunities for junior workers. Visit their website for program information and toll-free numbers. Staff will be pleased to assist you. |
| Q | Are regional districts eligible to apply for Towns for Tomorrow funds? |
| A | Regional districts are encouraged to apply for infrastructure funding under our expanded Towns for Tomorrow program.
The program was expanded Oct. 10 to meet the needs of more communities, including regional districts and communities of 5,000 to 15,000 residents. The program helps bridge the rural-urban divide by providing much-needed support to support the development or improvement of local infrastructure in smaller B.C. communities with limited resources. Deadline for submission is Jan. 16, 2009. |
| Q | I cannot find exactly what I’m interested in on your site. Can you help me? |
| A | Send an e-mail to our office and we’d be pleased to help you. |
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