Invermere will receive a total of $85,988 for projects that help support tourism infrastructure and amenities.

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.

Invermere has been participating in the RMI program since 2009. It is prioritizing its RMI funding for projects that enhance the visitors’ experience within the region, including improvements to Invermere’s trails, the Cenotaph Park and Kinsmen Beach.

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 ─

“Tourism is a key economic driver for B.C.’s resort municipalities and since 2009 the RMI program has provided close to $1.5 million to Invermere helping to enhance its tourism infrastructure and addressing the unique challenges it faces as a seasonally dependent economy. I am proud that our government continues to fund improvements that broaden tourism activities that will entice visitors to keep coming back to these tourism hot spots year-round.”

Gerry Taft, mayor of Invermere ─

“The Resort Municipality Initiative is an extremely important program for communities in British Columbia with a significant tourism economy. This investment in tourism infrastructure not only improves our product offering and improves the experience for visitors. In the case of the District of Invermere, we have been able to complete entrance/gateway signage, construct a year-round concession and washroom building at our beach park, completely re-do and expand two parks and public gathering places in our downtown core, as well as annually support a very busy and popular shuttle bus linking Invermere and Panorama Mountain Resort.”

Quick Facts:

• Invermere is receiving $85,988 for FY 2015-16 and has received $1,482,655 since 2009.
• 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://engage.gov.bc.ca/bcjobsplan/

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