Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) funding has provided the Town of Golden a rare chance to afford significant improvements along Canada’s main street, the well-travelled Highway 1.

The initial phase of the Highway 1 Corridor Enhancement is officially underway with an investment of over $500,000. The upgrades include landscaping improvements alongside the roadway, giving tourists an even more positive impression of the community. The changes are expected to be completed by July.

RMI is a $10.5-million per year program that addresses the unique circumstances of resort-oriented municipalities to develop and enhance local tourism-related infrastructure and amenities. The communities that participate in the RMI program include Fernie, Golden, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Kimberley, Osoyoos, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sun Peaks, Tofino, Ucluelet, Valemount and Whistler. Since 2006 Golden has received $5,316,383 in funding from the RMI program.

To keep our economy diverse, strong and growing the BC Jobs Plan has been building on the strengths of eight of our province’s key sectors using our educated and skilled workforce. B.C.’s tourism sector is one of the eight key sectors identified in the BC Jobs Plan, creating more than 132,200 jobs and $13.9 billion in revenues across the province in 2013. Since RMI inception in 2006 over $87.6 million has been invested in tourism infrastructure and programs to support local and regional tourism economies in the 14 participating communities.

Quotes

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour -

“First impressions are important. The improvements to Highway 1 in Golden will be one of the first things that tourists notice as they enter Golden. Beautification projects like this are made possible through the Resort Municipality Initiative which is designed to help improve and strengthen the economies of these tourism hot spots and to encourage tourists to stay and enjoy the area, providing valuable economic benefits.”

Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of State Tourism and Small Business -

“Highway 1 in Golden is a key travel artery for British Columbians, Canadians and international visitors. It’s great to see the Highway 1 improvements underway. These aesthetic upgrades will enhance the experience for visitors and locals travelling around ‎this beautiful region in our province.”

Ron Oszust, mayor of Golden -

“This project represents the essence of what the RMI program is about for us. It provides us the ability to fund improvements in our community that the destination traveler has come to expect and we could otherwise never afford.”

Quick Facts:

• The RMI program aims to: increase the number of visitors, their length of stay, broaden resort activities, increase employment and diversify the local tax base.
• B.C. had a 5.3% increase in international visitors in 2014 compared to 2013. This is nearly a quarter of a million (234,079) more people coming to B.C. from outside the country.
• This announcement is another step toward fulfilling our BC Jobs Plan commitment to assist over 100 communities and 19 industry sectors to develop and/or promote world-class visitor experiences.

Learn More:

To learn more about the RMI program, please visit: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=30A40BDA6D8346798E15C6050063F719

Town of Golden: http://www.golden.ca/

BC Jobs Plan:  http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/

Media Contacts:

Media Relations
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
250 387-2799