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Volume 7 Issue 19
1st place B.C.-Yukon, 3rd in Canada *See A4
Rural Dividend - “too onerous” for non-profits? by KORIE MARSHALL
A new fund from the provincial government, intended to support rural communities, may be too onerous for many nonprofits to apply for. That is because it requires audited financials, at least for the first round of intakes. The Rural Dividend is a new grant program from the provincial government, intended to help rural communities diversify and strengthen their economies. The program will provide $25 million a year over three years to rural communities with populations under 25,000, and is open to local governments, First Nations and non-profit organizations. According to the program guide, it is intended to reinvigorate and diversify local economies, making them more attractive
places to live and work. Program staff said in early May they’d already heard complaints that the requirement for audited financials is too onerous for many non-profits. “Audited statements will generally run about four to five thousand dollars, and that’s for a non-profit,” says local resident Gord Peters. He is the manager for one local non-profit, and has been involved in many others non-profits and business ventures. He says the next step down would be a Review Engagement Report for about $3-4 thousand. “A good recommendation would be to eliminate the need for audited statements, or even reviewed statements for non-profits falling under a certain threshold of revenue,” says Peters. “Otherwise all your money will go to accountants.”
The manager of another local non-profit said she recently received a quote closer to $10,000 for audited statements for one year. Audited statements are not currently required for non-profits under the provincial Society Act. Peters says it’s a sign of the times we live in, that everyone wants to cover themselves. “People in government feel that $5,000 is pocket change.” Audited financial statements are currently required for both the Rural Dividend’s main funding streams (either for a single applicant or for a partnership) and for the Project Development funding stream. The Project Development stream can grant up to $10,000 towards things like feasibility studies or business cases, to help an organization build a Cont’d on A02
A03
Listings on P15!
Prince George
Simpcw in Valemount
A07
Help for Horseshoe
Mercury rising The sun rises above McBride Peak early on May 9th to reveal a rare event: the planet Mercury passing in front of the sun.
Photo courtesy Matthew Wheeler
Mercury is the dark dot to right of the tall tree. A sunspot about the same diameter as planet Earth is seen above Mercury. “Air turbulence from the mountain has distorted details in the photo,” says photographer and star-watcher Matthew Wheeler. “When viewed through a telescope with a solar filter later in the morning, Mercury was a perfect-looking round black disc that almost seemed like a hole through the sun.” See more on our website, www.therockymountaingoat.com
Tourism Valemount Winter Photo Contest winners! A02
Hit
Dan Roberts took second place in the Snowmobiling category for this dynamic shot.
See them all on A09