The Fort St. John Friendship Society is receiving $213,520 in provincial funding for its building expansion project.
Funding is coming from the Northern Healthy Communities Fund, which the province says will expand access to child and youth programs, and expanded job placement and training programs.
"This funding will provide a long-awaited expansion for Fort St. John Friendship Society, including a new and inclusive preschool space that meets the accessibility needs of our community members," said Executive Director Anita Lee in a statement.
"In addition, our child and youth programs and job placement programs will be expanded to provide more of these critical services, which will make a huge difference in our community."
According to the province, the expansion will allow the society to re-locate its existing second floor preschool to the ground floor next to the fenced playground and greenspace. The second floor space will then become home to child and youth program staff who have reached capacity due to lack of space, as well as provide an expanded job placement and training centre.
The province earlier this year earmarked $25 million over five years to help communities near the Coastal GasLink and LNG Canada projects improve access to services such as child care and mental health.
The fund is open to 22 local governments and 27 First Nations, along with non-profit organizations that provide services to those communities. Grants are available through two streams: one to increase capacity of services and one to fund capital projects.
Northern Development Initiative Trust is administering the program and the funds will be disbursed quarterly through a series of intakes over five years. The program is accepting applications for the next round of funding and successful projects will be announced in the fall.
Email Managing Editor Matt Preprost at editor@ahnfsj.ca
