Updated Pemberton & District Initiative Fund (PDIF) Policy Improves Accessibility

Pemberton, BC – The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) has adopted a series of updates to the Pemberton & District Initiative Fund (PDIF) Policy, designed to simplify processes, enhance accessibility, and reduce administrative burden for eligible local community organizations. The updated policy was adopted at the SLRD Board meeting on July 23, 2025, based on recent recommendations made by the Pemberton Valley Utilities & Services (PVUS) Committee. The PVUS Committee is an advisory committee of the SLRD Board and is comprised of elected officials from the Village of Pemberton and Electoral Area C.  

Funded by tax requistion, the PDIF program has supported a wide range of economic development, arts, culture, and recreation initiatives in Pemberton and Electoral Area C, distributing funds totalling more than $818,000 since this SLRD service was established in 2019. The latest revisions to PDIF Policy No.16-2020 reflect a thorough review undertaken by staff that was shaped by input from past, current, and potential applicants through a community engagement exercise.

“We are committed to improving the PDIF funding process for accessibility and transparency. Streamlining the process aims to reduce barriers and allows community groups to focus on their important initiatives without having to spend a lot of time to navigate a cumbersome application process," said SLRD Board Chair Jen Ford. “PDIF is a successful and impactful initiative made possible through the strong relationship between the SLRD and the Village of Pemberton. We value this collaboration and the shared commitment to supporting meaningful work in our communities.”

As part of the policy's updates, the seed funding option will be eliminated. This funding option has never recieved any applications and removing it streamlines the funding process and focuses program delivery on the more commonly accessed streams: long-term and one-time.

To maintain recipient accountability while reducing the associated burden on organizations who receive the funding the following updates will be made. The application form will be shortened for one-time and fee waiver requests so organizations aren't deterred from making smaller funding requests. Presentations for funding applications and progress reports will remain but applicants are encouraged to provide short and simple presentations. The written progress report requirements will also be simplified.

The funding limits will be increased with one-time funding now set at $7,000, and the long-term funding now set at $15,000 per year.

Overall, the policy has been reformatted into a more accessible, user-friendly document with clear language outlining key requirements and deadlines. Feedback from applicants indicated the previous format was difficult to navigate. The revised layout aims to improve clarity for all users, from first-time applicants to long-standing recipients.

"The PDIF has been a cornerstone of community support in Pemberton and Electoral Area C," said PVUS Committee Chair and Village of Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman. "We are grateful for the input we received from applicants and the public throughout this process, and we are confident that these improvements strike a good balance between reducing administrative burden on community organizations and maintaining accountability for the use of community funds."

With these updates now in effect, the PDIF is better positioned to continue supporting the meaningful work of community organizations in Pemberton and Electoral Area C. Applications for long-term funding are due by October 15, 2025. One-time funding and fee waiver requests continue to be accepted on an ongoing basis, subject to fund availability.

For more information on the revised Pemberton & District Initiative Fund Policy, including application guidelines and deadlines, please call the SLRD at (604) 894-6371 ext. 238 or visit the PDIF page on the SLRD's website. 

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About the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
Located in southwestern BC, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is a local government federation consisting of four member municipalities (the District of Lillooet, the District of Squamish, the Village of Pemberton and the Resort Municipality of Whistler) and four unincorporated, rural electoral areas (A, B, C, and D). Headquartered in Pemberton, which is the approximate geographic centre of the region, the SLRD delivers a wide range of local, regional and sub-regional services to approximately 50,496 residents (2021 Census as certified by the Minister of Municipal Affairs).

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District is found within the traditional territories of several First Nations, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), St'át'imc and Líl̓wat. Small parts of the SLRD also overlap with the traditional territories of the Stó:lō, Tsleil-Waututh, Nlaka'pamux, Tsilhqot'in, and Secwepemc Nations. While the SLRD does not provide direct services to the residents of the First Nations communities located within the region, the organization is committed to enhancing relations with the Indigenous communities and First Nations within whose territories the SLRD operates.