Softwood Industry Community Economic Adjustment Initiative (SICEAI)
Program OverviewWhat is (SICEAI)?
The SICEAI is a national program to support those forest-dependent communities across Canada that demonstrate a negative impact on local employment since the introduction of the US countervailing duties on softwood lumber. The program will be delivered to impacted communities by Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) and through Community Futures Development Corporation.
What are the objectives of the fund?
The SICEAI will help forest-dependent communities create opportunities for economic development in order to stimulate investment and job creation. Specifically, SICEAI will provide funding for projects in BC's forest-dependent communities that address local adjustment priorities and which have demonstrable community support. SICEAI objectives are to facilitate local and regional, forest-based strategic investments with positive long term economic benefits; and transition away from traditional forest-based dependence to alternative and sustainable economic activities within communities.
The priority areas under SICEAI are:
- Innovation and Value Added Forestry
- Community Capacity Building
- Economic Diversification
- Infrastructure that Encourages Growth
- First Nations Participation
