Two local organizations receive provincial grant funding

Fifty-four new tourism projects throughout B.C. are receiving funding under the Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program’s (CERIP) destination development stream.

The destination development funding invests in implementation-ready tourism infrastructure and amenities projects that support the recovery and resilience of tourism. It creates jobs and develops infrastructure that will attract visitors to B.C. communities when travel resumes. Approved projects include campground and recreational-vehicle site development, alpine and mountain bike trails, boat launch upgrades, construction and/or renovations of visitor amenities and Indigenous interpretive centres.

“Our laser focus right now is on helping people and businesses during the pandemic, while making sure we’re ready to welcome visitors and explore B.C. when it is safe to do so,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport. “Investing in community-based tourism infrastructure not only creates good-paying jobs, it also helps to rebuild this hard-hit industry and ensures B.C.’s reputation as a world-class travel destination remains strong.”

Funding for the destination development stream of the CERIP totals $20 million. Funding from the ministries of Municipal Affairs and Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development also includes projects that support the tourism sector. An additional $34.5 million has been allocated for 95 tourism-related projects from these other CERIP funding streams, totalling almost $55 million toward tourism resiliency and development throughout B.C.

Locally, the Nicola Valley Fall Fair Association is receiving $65,000 to repair the roof of the exhibition building.

The Freshwater Fisheries Society of BC is also receiving $366,347, that money is earmarked for the Merritt and Nicola Valley fishing access improvement project. The project is described as ‘enhance and develop infrastructure to improve access.’