Kimberley will receive a total of $76,255 to support local tourism infrastructure and visitor services.

The funding comes from the government’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) which helps to grow the tourism sector in eligible municipalities. This year, the B.C. government is providing a total of $10.5 million to 14 eligible communities and is extending the RMI program for another year to the end of 2017.

Municipalities eligible for RMI funding are Fernie, Golden, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Kimberley, Osoyoos, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sun Peaks, Tofino, Ucluelet, Valemount and Whistler.

More than $98.1 million in RMI funding has been invested since 2006 to support tourism infrastructure and programs, helping to grow these local and regional economies.

Kimberley has been participating in the RMI program since 2007. It is prioritizing its RMI funding for projects that enhance the visitors’ experience within the region including pedestrian and mountain bike trail development, golf course enhancements as well improvements to the Purcell Soccer Field and Kimberley’s historic Underground Mining Railway.

Tourism is one of the sectors identified in the BC Jobs Plan, which continues to build on the strengths of eight of the province’s most-competitive sectors, utilizing B.C.’s educated and skilled workforce, keeping the economy diverse, strong and growing.

The B.C. tourism industry created 132,200 jobs and generated $13.9 billion in revenues in 2013. RMI supports the BC Jobs Plan and Gaining the Edge: B.C.’s Tourism Strategy by helping resort-based municipalities address the unique challenges they face as seasonally dependent economies. In addition to RMI funding, the Province invests more than $90 million annually in the tourism sector throughout B.C.

Quotes:

Bill Bennett, MLA for Kootenay East and Minister of Energy and Mines –

“We want to see our resort municipalities like Kimberley thrive. First impressions are always important and giving visitors a memorable experience is what will keep them coming back for years to come. Since 2007 the RMI program has provided more than $750,000 to Kimberley, which has enabled it to greatly enhance and upgrade its tourism infrastructure and historic sites. I am proud that our government continues to fund improvements that will entice visitors to keep coming back year-round to beautiful British Columbia.”

Don McCormick, mayor of Kimberley –

“Marketing will get people to visit once, but it is a great experience that brings them back. RMI funding is a key reason why Kimberley's tourism industry has consistently grown over the last eight years.RMI funds have enabled the upgrades to the Underground Mining Railway, the new washrooms at Purcell Soccer Field and the improvements to our ski racing infrastructure.This funding has takenour visitor experience to a new level.”

Quick Facts:

• Kimberley is receiving $76,255 for FY 2015/16 and has received $758,597 since 2007.
• More than $98.1 million in RMI funding has been invested since 2006 to support tourism infrastructure and programs, helping to grow these communities’ local and regional economies.
• In 2014, 4.7 million international visitors came to B.C. – a 5.3% increase and nearly a quarter of a million more people than the previous year.
• In 2013, tourism provided a direct contribution to B.C.’s gross domestic product of $7.3 billion, accounting for 4% of the province’s total GDP.
• In 2013, the tourism sector employed 132,200 British Columbians – that is about one in every 15 jobs in B.C.

Learn More:

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

To learn more about the Resort Municipality Initiative visit: http://ow.ly/R0k5j