Residents living in rural areas of British Columbia will soon have the opportunity to gather together and discuss ways to renew or improve their local economies at the Keeping It Rural 2017 conference in Kelowna on June 20 and 21.
The conference offers information on rural development issues communities such as Nakusp find important.
“They range from issues that have to do, for example, with the lack of working capital in many small towns to make things happen, to fund the expansion or renewal of existing businesses, or to support local entrepreneurial types who want to start a new business, to housing issues, to agricultural issues, to the impact that the arts and culture can play on the not just the social but the economical fabric of communities,” said Randy Morse, communications director for the BC Rural Centre. “With this new initiative we go out and look for success stories from all over North America that we can bring back to rural residents and organizations.”
For residents who would like to go to the conference, but might bit be able to afford it, the BC Rural Conference is partnering with Columbia Basin trust (CBT) to offer a stipend for up to 20 residents in the basin area.
To receive funding a person must be a resident of the CBT region and not be attending for the benefit of a role within local government.
Residents chosen to receive funding will be required to submit an expense form with accompanying documentation after the conference to be reimbursed up to a maximum of $1,000 for registration fees, accommodation, car rental, taxi, or public transit, and/or mileage.
To apply a resident must send an email to lbiln@cbt.org with their name, mailing address, phone number, and a brief description with a maximum of 200 words outlining their role in the area of rural community development, how attending will be beneficial to that person, and how they will use what they learned at the conference to benefit their organization or community.
The conference itself is being held at the Four Points Sheraton.
While Morse agrees that it’s not the most rural location in the province, it is a good venue.
“It’s fairly central, it has by far the best airport in the interior, it makes it easier for folks to coming in from the far north and it also makes it easier for our speakers to get here,” he said.
Deadline for funding applications is April 27.