(Image Credit: CFJC News)

By Sydney Chisholm

Economic Development

Tk’emlups gets piece of $66M provincial economic diversification funding

Apr 11, 2023 | 4:19 PM

KAMLOOPS – B.C.’s minister of jobs, economic development and innovation visited the Tk’emlups reserve Tuesday to announce $66 million will be doled out this year as part of the Rural Economic Diversification Program (REDIP).

With this fund, communities can apply for a maximum of $1 million to help them with projects either focusing on economic diversification, economic capacity or forest impact transition. Twenty-six communities, including Barriere, have been approved for the full $1 million in funding. The district of Barriere will be using its funding to refurbish the HY-Louis Building.

“I think that’s one of the really powerful things about this type of a project. Communities get to make decisions themselves — they prioritize what’s important to them in terms of economic development,” said Minister Brenda Bailey. “It’s important for government to recognize that communities know best about what they can do within their own communities.”

Through REDIP, the Tk’emlups Economic Development Corporation will receive $100,000 to increase its internal capacity and work toward economic sovereignty.

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“It’s also about creating opportunities to expand in business,” said Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir. “But it’s also to expand in the sovereignty of being able to establish our own businesses here on Tk’emlups te Secwepemc, to support all the social economic opportunities for our people.”

While this money won’t address any immediate infrastructure needs, it will help the First Nation map out possible future investments for what Kukpi7 Casimir considers the band’s most valuable asset: land.

“We do have 230 acres that are going to be open and available for leasing opportunities and also partnership opportunities, but also even some of our own economic opportunities as well,” she explained. “It’s going to be a tool that’s going to support our economic development team but it’s also going to support those who want to do business here.”

According to the province, REDIP has funded more than 200 projects in the first intake of applications.

Another round of intakes is planned to open later this year for projects moving forward in 2024.