Chase, British Columbia — Colin Mayes, Member of Parliament for    Okanagan – Shuswap, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, today announced a federal investment towards the Neskonlith Indian Band to begin construction on a local industrial park.

"Today’s investment will help provide the Neskonlith Indian Band the tools needed to strengthen and diversify their economy," said Mr. Mayes. "Funding will assist the Neskonlith Band to start development of a light industrial park that will create new opportunities and new jobs for our region."

Funding of more than $155,000 under the Community Economic Diversification Initiative (CEDI) will help diversify the local economy and create a more sustainable future within the Chase community. Funding will enable the Band to conduct and manage pre-construction work for an industrial park development. The establishment of this industrial property will enable the Neskonlith Band to benefit from industrial growth in the region. Project activities will include: land designation, engineering services, environmental assessment, public consultations and project management.

Managed by Western Economic Diversification, CEDI will invest more than $33 million over two years towards projects in communities most at risk from the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation. The program supports a wide range of projects that further economic growth, job creation and future community sustainability.

The CEDI program is part of the Government of Canada’s $200 million comprehensive response to mitigate the short- and long-term effects of the Mountain Pine Beetle infestation on B.C.’s forestry sector. This federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program is led by Natural Resources Canada, in collaboration with Western Economic Diversification (WD) and Transport Canada.

Western Economic Diversification works with the provinces, industry associations, and communities to promote the development and diversification of the western economy, coordinates federal economic activities in the West and represents the interests of western Canadians in national decision-making.

For more information on the federal Mountain Pine Beetle Program, please visit: http://mpb.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca/