Project Criteria

The North Peace Economic Development Commission (NPEDC) is a joint venture economic development commission which was formed on behalf of the City of Fort St. John, District of Taylor, District of Hudson's Hope and Electoral Areas B and C.

The mission statement of the NPEDC:
"Encourage economic development projects to diversify and strengthen the economy of the North Peace."

The NPEDC is not a funding agency. They do however provide financial support for projects which support the mission statement above.

This document has been prepared as a guide for individuals or organizations who wish to make application to the NPEDC for financial support for a project. All projects submitted to the NPEDC for financial consideration must be accompanied by a Project Terms of Reference.

Every project may not fit neatly into the format proposed on the following pages. However, effort should be made to ensure as many of the questions posed are answered as possible, as these are the issues that the Commission must consider to determine if they will fund a project.

Summary
The summary should be a maximum of two pages in length and is intended to be an overview of the project. It should be easy to read and should not contain technical terms of industry jargon. By reading the executive summary, the reader should be able to understand:

• Who is applying for financial support?
• What is the overall scope, general benefit and total cost of the project?
• How the project is proposed to be developed or delivered in broad terms?
• Where the project will take place?
• When the project will take place?
• Why the NPEDC would sponsor?

It is easiest to write the summary last, reiterating the important points from each section of the document. Do not introduce new ideas or recommendations in the summary that are not detailed in the body of the document.

Applicant Information
Who is applying for funding?

• Are you an individual, non-profit society, business etc?
• Who will be the contact for the project (include names, address, phone, fax)?
• Are there any other partners or organizations involved in this project?

Objective
The project scope should identify and quantify where possible the need and benefits of the project, and should answer the following questions:
         1. What is the project?
                 - What are the specific deliverables (i.e. a report, video, book etc.)
                 - What will the project accomplish?
                 - What tangible results will this project achieve?
                 - Are there intangible results?
         2. What is the need for this project?
                 - Was the need identified through a formal process such as a needs  assessment, study, gap analysis, etc.?
                 - If there was no formal process, how was the need identified?
                 - Are there different options to implement the project?
                 - What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different options?
         3. Who will benefit and how will they benefit if this project is implemented?

                 Does this project:
                 - Benefit a community, industry or a sector? How?
                 - Create jobs? How?
                 - Diversify the economy? How?
                 - Market or advertise the North Peace Area? How?
                 - Have short and long term benefits? If so what are they?
         4. Why should the NPEDC fund this project?
                 - How does the project relate to the mission statement of the NPEDC?
                 - Has alternate funding been considered or pursued?
                 - What other resources are being applied to this project (i.e. volunteers, in-kind services)?

Implementation
This section should identify how the project will be implemented if funding is provided:
         1. What work is to be done?
                 - What specific tasks are required to deliver the project?
                 - If tasks are not known at this time, how and when will they be identified?
         2. How will this project be implemented?
                 - Will the work be done by you or will it be contracted out?
                 - If a consultant or contractor is to be hired, what process do you intend to use to hire (e.g. direct award, local contractor preference, tender, etc.)?
         3. Who will be accountable for results?
                 - Within your organization who will be accountable be project results and what are their qualifications?
                 - How will the success of this project be measured?
                 - What goal posts have/will be set to ensure you are on track and on budget?
                 - How will you report project progress to the NPEDC?
         4. What are the timelines?
                 - When will the project start and end?
                 - What are the key milestones or stages of the project and when are they scheduled to happen?
                 - What measures will be put in place to ensure timelines are met?

Funding
This sections should detail the following:
         1. Funding Requirement
                 - Is it required in a lump sum or on a fee for services basis?
                 - Are start-up advances required? If so for what?
                 - How often or at what stages will you submit bills?
         2. Expenses?
                 - What type of expenses will be incurred?

Appendixes
Other information that may support your funding request may be attached in appendix form (e.g. business plan, resume, company profile etc.).

For further information please contact the NPEDC at
9325 - 100th Street
Fort St. John, BC
V1J 4N4
Phone: 250.785.5969
Fax: 250.785.5968
Email: invest@npedc.ca