Image Credit: Northern Development Initiative Trust

By Adam Berls

rural connectivity

NDIT administering funds for connectivity in Northern BC

Mar 24, 2023 | 3:12 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — With the recent announcement of cell coverage getting a boost, the Northern Development Initiative Trust will be administering those funds, as well as funds for other projects.

The Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) has been involved with economic development in Northern BC for nearly 20 years now, and have approved over 5000 projects in the North since its creation in 2005. CEO of the trust, Joel McKay explains why the trust was set up.

“The trust was set up to expand and diversify the economy in northern B.C. So we have our own money. We have between 250 and 300 million of our own funds that we manage sustainably over the long term. And you see a lot of that money going into community economic diversification projects, everything from recreation to cultural infrastructure, as well as capacity building and small business support.” – Joel McKay, CEO, NDIT

The trust has been administering funds on behalf of the government for connectivity issues for awhile now, as connectivity is a big issue for Northern BC.

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“We also will administer government money for certain programs or projects that we have identified as high priority in northern B.C. and connectivity has been one of those. We’ve been saying for many, many years that connectivity, whether it’s broadband or cellular, if you can improve that in rural communities, then you are actually driving economic diversification and development.” – Joel McKay, CEO, NDIT

Joel says that many rural and Northern communities have the internet, but the quality is not good, which can have an impact on the economic development of a community.

Northern BC’s core industries like forestry and mining can benefit from improved connectivity and tech.

The Northern Development Initiative Trust has received 209 applications so far this year, and 190 have already been approved. 8.8 million dollars of funds have been committed to projects in 2023, helping economic development in the North.