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Coastal Economic Trust is once again providing bursaries for up to 20 people to attend regional economic development courses and conferences.
“A key strategic priority for our Board is to support community participation in economic development planning,” said Phil Kent, ICET Board Chair. “Providing bursaries to enable communities to attend conferences and courses ensures that they get the access to newest approaches and best practices in economic development.”
The ICET board approved funding for 10 bursaries for the 2014 Vancouver Island Economic Alliance (VIEA) Economic Summit to be held in Nanaimo on October 29 and 30, and 10 bursaries for the 2014 BC Economic Development Association Western Economic Development Course, held in Richmond from November 2 to the 5.
“Attending the VIEA Economic Summit last year was a great opportunity as it introduced me to people, concepts, and practices which I need to support economic development in our small community. Without the ICET bursary, our Village Council could not have afforded the registration for the conference,” said Doug Arcus, Councillor, Village of Gold River.
Eligible applicants for the bursaries must be actively involved in economic development activities in their community and can include Municipal or First Nations Band employees and councillors, or other non-profit organizations involved in economic development.
“The Western Economic Development Course demystified the essentials of economic development,” said Madeline McDonald, Chief Administrative Officer, Village of Port Alice.
“I was excited to take away a number of practical tools relating to community profiling and the calculation of economic benefits to effectively integrate into project planning for our community.”
ICET Chair Kent noted that with economic development and job growth at the forefront of almost every local government’s agenda, helping communities connect with experts and share ideas is an investment in the region’s economic future.
“There are success stories and things to learn whether you’re in a major metropolitan centre, or a tiny, remote village. Sharing those successes and learning from others – big and small – is how entire regions can create sustainable, responsible growth.”
Interested applicants should contact ICET directly to discuss eligibility. Deadline for applications is September 30.
About the Island Coastal Economic Trust
The Island Coastal Economic Trust is a $50 million endowment established in 2006 by the Government of British Columbia to help diversify the economies of central and northern Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
ICET is guided by a Board of Directors and two Regional Advisory Committees which include more than 50 locally elected officials and MLAs and five appointees. This exceptional team of leaders collaborates to set regional priorities and build vital multi-regional networks.
Through a communitycentred decision-making process, ICET has approved $47.6 million for over 125 economic infrastructure and economic development readiness projects on the Island and Sunshine Coast since implementing its grant program in 2007. ICET investments have leveraged more than $268 million in incremental funding into the region.
A full overview of ICET can be found at www.islandcoastaltrust. ca
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