The City of Prince George has received a $300,000 grant for a three-year project to address the housing needs outlined in the city’s Housing Needs Study
The funding was part of $2.4 million in funding from the Northern Healthy Communities Fund for 10 projects across northern B.C. announced on Friday. The city’s project will include both strategy-building and capacity building.
“This project will support the construction of housing within the community by determining how to get the necessary housing built and what barriers the City of Prince George is able to reduce to entice developers to build in the community,” according to information released by the Northern Development Initiative Trust.
The total budget for the three-year project is $333,333.36.
The Northern Development Initiative Trust administers the grant program on behalf of the B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs. The fund was created to support health, sustainable and resilient communities along the development corridor of the Coastal GasLink natural gas pipeline and LNG Canada liquified natural gas export terminal – both of which are still under construction.
Other projects funded in this round of grants include $500,000 towards the construction of the Dze L K'ant Friendship Centre Society’s planned $5.5 million friendship centre project in Houston; $176,210 to hire a community case manager for the Northern Brain Injury Association; $201,752 for the Mackenzie Counselling Services Society to hire a clinical councillor and group facilitator; $500,000 towards the anticipated $1.28 million project to expand the Clearview Landfill near Fort St. James; $372,935 for the District of Chetwynd to hire a finance/human resource coordinator and victim services coordinator; $200,000 for the District of Vanderhoof to hire a director of community services; and $179,920 to support the Pacific Northwest Chronic Pain Network.
"Through investments in communities that are being impacted by rapid economic development, the NHCF is supporting people as they adjust to increased activity in the region," trust CEO Joel McKay said in a statement issued on Friday. "Through the capacity-building stream, organizations are able to hire qualified professionals to address the unique needs their community faces in a personable and effective way.
