Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality will receive a total of $289,472 for projects that help support tourism infrastructure and amenities, Terry Lake, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson announced today.

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.

Sun Peaks has been participating in the RMI program since 2011. It is prioritizing its RMI spending on projects that expand recreational opportunities and encourage visitors to return to the community including summer music events and recreation infrastructure improvements. Summer concerts and events have been successful in drawing a more diverse group of visitors to the community, beyond those coming to Sun Peaks for the outstanding skiing and snowboarding.

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:

Terry Lake, MLA for Kamloops-North Thompson –

“Just last month Sun Peaks set a record for July occupancy numbers – a 20% increase over the previous year. Since 2011, funding from the RMI program has assisted Sun Peaks’ successful transition to a major year-round destination. While it remains a great place to visit in the winter, there is now a wide range of activities and events to attract visitors to Sun Peaks all year long.”

Al Raine, mayor of Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality –

“The Resort Municipality Initiative assists resort oriented communities by providing funding which, when combined with the locally collected municipal and regional district tax and property taxes, provides balanced and significant funding to invest in needed tourism related infrastructure and programs and to market Sun Peaks. We are pleased that the Province of B.C. has recognized this unique situation and provided a community driven formula to encourage tourism investments in smaller communities.”

Quick Facts:

• Sun Peaks is receiving $289,472 for FY 2015/16 and has received a total of $1,613,413 since 2011.
• 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