iF

from page | 1

"Our landbased  pro-
gram is now getting well
established and = un-
derstood,” Devana says,
adding that this is in a
large part due to the fact
that "there are a lot of
companies here with a
good understanding of
this type of work."

In fact, Parkinson notes,
the local office has in ex-
cess of 200 landbased
proposals on the books.

A large part of the land-
based program focusses
on funding for incremen-
tal forestry -- strategies
geared to increasing the
timber yield of forests.
Forestry research, restora-
tion of fish habitat, and a
wide range of other
resource-related projects
are also targetted for
funding.

Partnership is a key in-
gredient in proposals, and
First Nations participa-
tion is strongly  en-
couraged,

"One of our goals is to
increase First Nations
participation in the forest
sector," Devana says.

-An example is

the

DAVE DEVANA

watershed restoration
skills training received by
members of three bands
in the Kispiox Forest Dis-
trict. Trainees learned
slope stabilization, road
deactivation, and habitat
restoration, They are
now a trained workforce
that can be hired by forest
licensees and other orga-
nizations.

Delivery agents admin-
ister programs approved
for funding. BC Environ-

ment and the Ministry of

Forests are the delivery
agents for most of the
land and resource

Guess Who's Located On The Busiest
Intersection In All Of Northwest B.C.?

Stewart &
Far North

projects. Officers from
these agencies will
monitor the contract to
ensure the job is done in
compliance with legisla-
tion. Regional Economic
Development Officers act
as delivery agents for
community-related — pro-
grams.

Peter Mutrie is the local
Project Officer for the so-
cial and economic side of
FRBC’s mandate. He
oversees three activity
areas: communities,
value-added and work-
force.

"All three areas are still
developing," Mutrie
says, noting that many
proposals are for
feasibility studies.

One recent example is
the feasibility study for a
forest business planning
program in Stewart.

"They are looking at
fiber flow, with a view
toward attracting a value-
added _— bussiness to
Stewart.”

The Stewart example
shows how a project from
one portfolio, in this case
communities, can be

$

Hazelton

Smithers

COLUMBIA. AUTO
~ HAUS LTD.

@ Kitimat

Howslan
Burns Lake
Vanderhol

We sell on consignment

relevant to the other ac-
tivity areas.

"Communities funding
is our best avenue to
come up with information
to feed other processes,"
Mutrie says:

In Bums Lake a
proposal from the Lakes
District Economic Devel-
opment Society was ap-
proved to study the
feasibility of starting a
log home manufacturing
business in the area.

"There the community
is trying to help entrepre-
neurs get off the ground,"
Mutrie says.

On the landbased side
FRBC is moving toward
a 5-year funding atrange-
ment with some
proponents. This will
give forest companies, for
example, the security to
field long-term projects.

This may result in com-
panies seeing more direct
benefit from the addi-
tional . silviculture treat-
ments they are able to fi-
nance with FRBC dollars.

It may also result .in
more extensive multi-

PETER MUTRIE

phase projects in a num-
ber of areas.

For example, the poten-
tial for recreational devel-
opment is considerable in
this region, Devana notes.
Interpretive trails and

backcountry cabins are’
two example of

just

potential projects. FRBC
is currently funding a
study in the Cassiar
Forest District to examine
the feasibility of re-
opening the old Hazelton-
Atlin Telegraph Trail.

As long as the’ enter-
prise is non-profit and
open to all stakeholders,
and a club cr society
agrees to assume respon-

sibility, FRBC is willing
to entertain proposals,

And the door is always
open: Proposal applica-
lions are available at the
Smithers office on Main
Street as well as at
Regional Economic De-
velopment Offices. All it
takes is local initiative to
complete the FRBC vi-
sion of strengthening
communities that depend
on the forest industry,

ih

Safety is no
accident,
so PLAYSAFE!

A message from
The War Amps
PLAYSAFE Program

4

Looking For Business Opportunities In
The Northwest's Forestry Industry?

TERRACE HAS WHAT YOU WANT!

4 hae see ry

cme

SRE TAs

om

* Solid Information *Experienced Support *Excellent Location

THE CITY OF

TERRAC

Call Ken Veldman
Economic Development Officer

City of Terrace

3215 Eby St.

Terrace, B.C. V8G 2X8
E-mail: kveldman@Kermodew

Columbia Auto Haus Ltd.

Your Northern Volkswagen & Suzuki Dealer
and home of Dollar Rent A Car

Da LAT 3: SUZUKI

SKEENA
PROJECT
SERVICES
LTD.

Cost Effective Technical Support in
Northwest British Columbia

Skeena Project Services Ltd. has been providing a complete range of
technical services to the forest industry, =

Including: _
° Hydroseeding/Hydromulching * Top Map Sales

* Fores! Road Survey & Design ° Air Photo Sales

* Soil Testing * On-line road design
* Environmental Monitoring * Bridge Inspection -

(604) 638-0808
13

Columbia Auto Haus o::.:

4109 Substation Ave. 635-5717 4

Terrace, B.C. V8G 3W6 Sales

635-0997 AAAS Greig Ave., Terrace, B.C.

Dealer #6351