Skip to content
Join our Newsletter

Healthy communities fund taking applications

The provincial government has earmarked $25 million over five years to help communities next to the Coastal GasLink pipeline and LNG Canada project improve access to such services such as child care and mental health.
x

The provincial government has earmarked $25 million over five years to help communities next to the Coastal GasLink pipeline and LNG Canada project improve access to such services such as child care and mental health.

The Northern Healthy Communities Fund is open to 22 local governments and 27 First Nations along the route, along with non-profit organizations that provide services to those communities, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs said Tuesday.

Grants are available through two streams - one to increase capacity of services and one to fund capital projects.

Those who apply through the capacity building stream can secure as much as $100,000 or 90 per cent of an eligible project budget. Projects that qualify for this funding include expanding hours for child care centres and hiring more employees for mental health services and supporting small business recruitment, retention and resiliency.

The stream for capital projects provides up to $300,000 to a maximum of 80 per cent of the eligible project budget. Examples of projects that qualify include renovating a child care facility or a building that provides mental health services or renovating a multi-unit housing building or upgrades to an Indigenous cultural space.

"We know that growth can require additional services to meet community needs and, through this new fund, we are working with local governments and First Nations to ensure people have the supports they need, such as child care, social housing, health and mental health support services and help for small business recruitment," municipal affairs minister Josie Osborne said in a statement.

Northern Development Trust is administering the program and the funds will be disbursed quarterly through a series of intakes over five years. The initial intake is open until Feb. 26. Applications received after the first intake date ends will be considered for future rounds of funding.

Currently under construction, the $6.6-billion Coastal GasLink pipeline is to stretch 670 kilometres from the B.C. Peace to Kitimat where it is to supply natural gas for the $40-billion LNG Canada liquified natural gas export terminal, also under construction. Together, the two projects are to create up to 10,000 jobs during construction. The LNG Canada terminal is to generate 350 to 450 jobs upon completion, with the initial startup scheduled for mid-decade.

For more information on the fund, click here.