UPDATE: East Kootenay Community Economic Development

CFEK promotes economic development and the creation of jobs and wealth in our region by providing small-business loans for start-up, expansion or the purchase of existing businesses. In addition to financial support, CFEK offers a variety of business-related services, including knowledgeable, professional business consultation and access to training for entrepreneurs and their employees.

PROGRAMS & FUNDING

  • The BC Employer Training Grant provides funding to businesses to support skills training for the workforce, including prospective new hires. Employers can apply as often as they need and may receive up to $10,000 per employee, with a maximum annual amount per employer of $300,000.

  • PacifiCan’s Business Scale-up and Productivity program is now open. This program is for high-growth businesses that are scaling up and producing innovative goods, services or technologies and have been operating in BC for a minimum of 2 years. More details and full eligibility criteria can be found here. Express of Interest closes 27 July 2022.

  • Non-profit Sustainability – Building Support GrantsThis program supports non-profits and First Nations, with community purpose buildings, by providing funding for energy retrofits and structural and envelope building repairs up to a maximum of $200,00. Expression of Interest closes 30 June 2022.

  • Climate Resilience Program supports large-scale, multi-year, shovel-ready climate mitigation, adaptation, and resilience projects that address sources of climate change or manage the risks of climate change impacts. To apply, you must first contact the Coordinator of the Climate Resilience Program at [email protected] to discuss your project idea and its eligibility. If the Project Idea is eligible the link to the online application form will be provided to you. The Project Idea submission deadline is 30 August 2022.

  • Community Readiness Program helps communities meet their needs during emergencies and disasters such as floods, wildfires, extreme heat or sustained power outages. Eligible applicants may apply for funding for any or all the following activities:
    • the purchase of emergency readiness equipment and supplies to be made available for community wide benefit;
    • facility improvements to accommodate emergency readiness or to increase accessibility; and
    • training in the use and distribution of emergency readiness equipment. Applications close 1 September 2022.

  • The Canada Community Revitalization Fund wasn’t fully subscribed in 2021! Downtown revitalization, improving outdoor spaces and creating green infrastructure are all projects that could use this funding. Priority will be given to applications received prior to 23 July 2021 (the previous closing date) and those that were granted extensions due to wildfires or mourning of the discovered graves in Indigenous communities, however it is still worth putting something forward if you have a project that meets the criteria. 

ADDITIONAL FUNDING OPTIONS THAT ARE STILL OPEN:


OTHER GREAT ANNOUNCEMENTS

  • State of the Basin recently released their 2021 Subjective Wellbeing Report.
  • Applications are now open for childcare centres to become $10/day centres. The application guide and more information can be found here.