Questions?

If you have any questions regarding an approved project, please do not hesitate to contact Patricia Sayer at patricia@coastfunds.ca or 604-684-0223 ext 9.

Eligible Applicants

• A Participating First Nation (one of the 27 First Nations or 3 Regional Organizations specified in Schedule G of the Conservation Investments and Incentives Agreement – see Our Mandate) as represented by the authorized governing body of the Nation; or
• Any other entity fully or partially owned or controlled by the Participating First Nation which has a resolution from the Participating First Nation supporting a complete funding application; or
• An individual member of a Participating First Nation or business owned by any such individual who has a resolution supporting a complete funding application.

Eligible Projects

The economic development fund supports environmentally sound and sustainable economic development activities throughout the Great Bear Rainforest and Haida Gwaii. Priority will be given to projects that have positive environmental or social impacts, direct or indirect.

Projects and businesses that may be eligible for funding:

• Shellfish aquaculture
• Fisheries
• Technology and communications infrastructure (e.g. broadband internet)*
• Wildlife viewing
• Nutraceuticals
• Mushroom harvesting
• Non-timber forest products
• Tourism, including cruises, trails, and strategic cultural/marketing infrastructure*
• Ecosystem-based management compliant forestry operations
• Non-nuclear and non-carbon burning energy projects
• Green building projects
• Small scale, non-toxic, subsurface rock, mineral or gem extraction projects
• Economic development capital corporations that utilize funding standards consistent with the Fund’s policies and guidelines.
• Transportation infrastructure (e.g. airports, wharves, marinas)*
• Small Business infrastructure (e.g. retail market space, small business or artisan incubator facilities)*
• Other infrastructure that will support any of the above projects and businesses.*

* Please note the following are required documents for infrastructure project funding applications:

For an application proposing an infrastructure project to be considered eligible, applicants must submit one of the following documents that will be considered equivalent to a business plan:

1. A business plan for a business that will benefit directly from the infrastructure investment; or
2. A summary analysis of the projected direct economic benefits to existing businesses in the community, and the potential for creation of new businesses directly resulting from the infrastructure investment.

All infrastructure applications must also include both of the following documents:

1. A detailed capital expenditure budget for the infrastructure investment, including valid quotations for materials and construction; and
2. A detailed multi-year operating and maintenance (O&M) budget to support the infrastructure.

Funding will not be approved for any of the following activities:

• Activities to promote British Columbia, Canada or the Private Funders, provided that this restriction will not prevent the Fund from acknowledging the contributions of British Columbia, Canada and the Private Funders;
• Any activity inconsistent with any ecosystem-based management (EBM) land and resource management objectives;
• Any financial costs or obligations incurred by First Nations with respect to any consultations with any government or corporation concerning that government or corporation’s duty to consult or accommodate;
• Costs associated with meeting statutory obligations of the provincial or federal governments or other entities. This restriction is intended to prevent the off-loading of statutory obligations, or the costs of meeting statutory obligations, of the provincial or federal governments to First Nations. This restriction is not intended to preclude the funding of negotiations or discussions between Eligible First Nations and the provincial or federal governments regarding the implementation of an economic development Project;
• Open net-cage finfish aquaculture;
• Political activities as defined by the Income Tax Act;
• Any activity or expenditure for initiatives not consistent with provincial laws, permits, regulations, established policies, orders and/or approvals;
• Any activity inconsistent with the Economic Development Fund’s constitution;
• Any activity that is not Sustainable, as defined herein and determined at the sole discretion of the Fund, with particular regard to fish and wildlife stocks in the Project Area;
• Any activity associated with the large scale extraction of subsurface resources;
• Fishing licences for stocks targeted for harvest reduction by federal or provincial agencies;
• Trophy hunting for game;
• Bear and/or carnivore hunting;
• Healthcare, social services, housing, or community centres;
• Community beautification;
• Bridges, roads, water, or sewer (unless directly related to industrial or commercial businesses);
• Cultural spaces (unless integrated as a key component of a comprehensive tourism marketing plan); and
• Any other amenities infrastructure similar to the above.

Economic Development – Funding Approval Policy

The purpose of this policy is to provide guidelines for the conservation fund application, monitoring, reporting, and evaluation process. The policy encapsulates the parameters contained in the governing documents as well as recommendations for best practices.

> View the Economic Fund – Funding Approval Policy