Communities get vehicle grants

As part of the B.C. government’s Highway 16 Transportation Action Plan, 12 northern communities and organizations will receive community vehicle grants, the province announced Wednesday.

The program budget increased to $2 million from $800,000 over three years, including $752,000 in capital funding for the purchase of community vehicles and $1.2 million in operating funding.

The grant program will pay up to about 70 per cent of the purchase of a vehicle along with associated operating costs including gas, maintenance and insurance.

Preference was given to applicants representing First Nations communities, those partnered with First Nations Communities and remote communities with limited or no transportation services.

Communities and organizations receiving grants include: • Binche Keyoh Bu Society (Binche and Tl’azt’en Community Connector). • Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society (Community Connections). • Fraser Lake and Area Community Bus Service. • Friendship House Association of Prince Rupert (3 Sister Community Transportation Service). • Gingolx Village Government (Gingolx Transportation Service). • Gitanmaax Band (Gitanmaax Transportation Service). • Gitanyow Human Services (Gitanyow Connections Program). • Granisle Better at Home/Village of Granisle (Granisle Better at Home Transportation Services). • Kermode Friendship Society (Kermode Transportation Partnership Initiative). • Nee Tahi Buhn (Nee Tahi Buhn Community Transportation). • Saik’uz First Nation, (District of Vanderhoof/Saik’uz-Vanderhoof Community Transportation). • Takla Lake First Nation, (Driftwood Corridor Transportation Services).