EcoTrust Canada gains $100,000 award for innovation lab plans in Prince Rupert

The North Coast Innovation Lab
part of the EcoTrust presence
in Prince Rupert is the
recipient of $100,000 in
rural dividend funding

The North Coast Innovation Lab is getting a good head start towards its plans of spurring on economic development in the region, with the EcoTrust Canada led project set to receive 100,000 dollars in funding from the British Columbia government.

The money comes from the BC Rural Dividend Program and for EcoTrust it will be used as part of their Innovation lab project, a place-based program that is designed to generate and implement innovative community designed and driven ideas for a vibrant and inclusive local economy.

In an information release from Doug Donaldson, the Minister for Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development and relayed by North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, it was noted that the Prince Rupert Innovation lab will build on the work of Re:Design Rupert, which had been the recipient of rural dividend funding in previous years.

The concept of the North Coast Innovation Lab recently was reviewed as part of a public presentation by EcoTrust Canada, which hosted an information night earlier this month at Northwest Community College

One of the more prominent projects that may now move forward through the work of the EcoTrust office is a plan for a Cow Bay Marina Fish Market, a long sought after addition to the Prince Rupert waterfront that Councillor Barry Cunnnigham has championed for over the last few years.

With additional funding in place for EcoTrust Canada, 
Prince Rupert residents may see some progress on the 
concept of a fish market for the Cow Bay Dock

Some further background on the work of EcoTrust Canada in the community can be reviewed here.

Two other North Coast communities received funding for projects yesterday as well:

The District of Kitimat has been awarded 90,000 dollars to work with the Kitimat Chamber of Commerce on development of a community brand..

The Kitsumkalum Indian Band is being awarded 78,600 dollars to complete a feasibility study and business plan for a commercial food processing facility.

You can review the full North Coast announcement from the province here.

The province has been busy this week rolling out Rural Dividend Announcements across the province, with some 42 projects sharing in close to six million dollars in funding.

The Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development page from the BC Government website offers up a review of many of those 42 projects.

More items of interest related to economic development and sustainable city initiatives in Prince Rupert and around the North Coast can be found on our archive page here.


Cross posted from the North Coast Review