July 31, 2025 – The Northern Development Initiative Trust Board of Directors has approved $978,744 in grant funding for five economic development projects throughout its region during their July 23 meeting. The financial investments will benefit recreational and cultural amenities in Bella Bella, Mackenzie, and Takla while also supporting food security projects in the Peace River Regional District and Anahim Lake.
“This suite of funding approvals continues to prove Northern Development’s dedication to being a catalyst for transformative rural development that stimulates community resiliency,” said Chair Margo Wagner. “Thank you to all the organizations who are leading these projects to benefit their communities and the north – this is an excellent demonstration of northern spirit and we appreciate your dedication to improving livelihoods in our region. Northern Development is pleased to provide this support of your efforts.”
- Bella Bella Community School Society’s Bella Bella Gym Infrastructure Upgrade project – $200,000: This investment supports the modernization of technology in the Bella Bella Community School to transform the gymnasiums into a multi-functional recreational and cultural facility for the community. The project involves the installation of a new audio system, video wall/scoreboard, streaming technology, and digital signage infrastructure. The introduction of streaming and broadcast technology will allow for events, from basketball games to Elder gatherings, to be shared with family and community members who are unable to attend events in person, strengthening connection and participation across Heiltsuk Nation. It is anticipated that this improvement project will allow the school to double their volume of annual programming in the first year and increase annual traffic by 71% over two years.
- Mackenzie Community Arts Council’s Phase Two of Cariboo Place project – $164,372: This project builds upon the first phase of the Cariboo Place in which the Mackenzie Community Arts Council accepted a donation of the building, completed a feasibility study, and assessed the building’s revenue potential while addressing urgent safety and accessibility concerns. This project will allow the organization to increase services and program available to the public, enhancing economic opportunities, and attracting visitors to the area to appreciate Mackenzie’s arts scene. Their current annual traffic is 500 people, and the applicant is forecasting it to triple in the first year after the project’s completion and scale to 3,000 annual visits in the second year.
- North Pine Farmers Institute’s Terminal Grain Bin Expansion project – $300,000: The installation of an additional grain bin at the existing terminal facility in Fort St. John will increase the terminal throughput by approximately 48%, to an average of 90,000-100,000 metric tonnes. This creates long-term, sustainable business opportunities for the North Pine Farmers Institute and support the local economy and producers. By addressing the significant need for increased grain storage capacity, the volume of goods passing through the terminal will increase, ultimately improving service to the local agriculture community, including the fulfillment of grain contracts within agreed upon timeframes which strengthens trust and security for producers. The new grain bin also expands the capacity for efficient goods transport, contributing to regional growth and prosperity.
- Sus’tut Limited Partnership’s Takla Narrow Infrastructure Enhancements project – $164,372: Sus’tut Limited Partnership, the social enterprise of Takla Nation, is revitalizing the Takla Narrows camp facility and completing upgrades to transform it from a seasonal amenity to a year-round facility for cultural, educational, and recreational use. The benefits of this project will be two-fold: to preserve access to the area that has deep historical and cultural significance, including traditional harvesting areas and pictographs and the opportunity to earn more revenue through leasing by groups in tourism and natural resources industries and other Indigenous organizations. This is the first application that Sus’tut Limited Partnership has submitted to Northern Development.
- Yun Ka Whu’ten Forestry Ltd’s YKWF Greenhouse Growing Operation project – $150,000: This investment will support Yun Ka Whu’ten Forestry Ltd.’s plans to establish a containerized greenhouse operation at a sawmill site near Anahim Lake. The modular vertical farm system will create two new permanent positions for Ulkatcho First Nation members and reduce economic leakage by keeping food production and sales within the remote community. Not only will the completed project provide residents with fresh, nutritious food, but also allow for sales to regional businesses.
Quotes:
Cameron MacMartin, IT Director, Bella Bella Community School
“This funding is crucial to allow us to make better use of an existing community facility. Our mission is to support lifelong learners in the Bella Bella Community, and the implementation of new technology will help us connect with students and teachers of all ages. We anticipate further strengthening our community and its traditions through this enhanced gathering space.”
Stephen James, CEO, Ulkatcho Group of Companies
“Ulkatcho is going through a transition and this grant funding helps us utilize a former sawmill site and optimize it to the benefit of our community. We are pleased that there is the desire to grow nutritious food locally and sell it to residents and local businesses. This investment will reap bountiful rewards through regular harvests for years to come and will help stabilize us from the ripple effects of supply chain disruptions. We can’t wait to harvest the first crop of greens!”
Matin Moore, Chair of the Elevator Committee, and Wade Cusack, President, North Peace Farmers Institute
“Receiving a $300,000 grant to assist with the costs of installing a new grain bin at our facility in Fort St. John is a significant improvement to our organization and the entire Peace Region. The benefits from this project will be realized by many producers throughout our region and will contribute to providing additional stability and security for the people who diligently work in the fields to produce crops to ship outside the Peace. We’re grateful that we can make this project a reality and while using available proven resources to lighten the burden on our organization. Opening avenues to support the continuance in fulfilling the “objects” of the North Pine Farmers Institute that is dated back to 1930 and is still active in serving the agriculture communities today.”
