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 Aug. 24.
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.