New Democrat MLA Michele Babchuk says the doubling of funding for B.C.’s newest economic diversification program will enable municipalities, First Nations, and not-for-profit organizations to complete more projects in rural communities, including Homalco First Nation.

“These grants support local governments in funding important local projects that directly affect people’s daily lives,” said Babchuk.

“Municipalities are the right people to be making decisions on where this money should be used to best serve the people in their communities.”

The North Island is receiving $7.25 million as part of the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP) to promote economic diversification, clean economy opportunities and infrastructure development in rural B.C.

Homalco First Nation is receiving a million dollars for its Bear Bay IR8 Lodge Construction Project.

The City of Campbell River’s Installation of a micro-unit marketplace: an incubator ecosystem for small and medium based businesses project - will be seeing $500,000.

The government is investing $66 million this year to support over 200 local, rural projects.