The Kootenay Outdoor Recreation Enterprise (KORE) is the recipient of a $488,750 grant from the second intake of the Rural Economic Diversification and Infrastructure Program (REDIP), created by the provincial government’s Ministry of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation (JEDI).
This year the provincial government is investing up to $33 million into this program, to support projects that promote economic diversification, resilience, clean growth opportunities and infrastructure development.
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“This support is massive,” said “Powder” Matt Mosteller, KORE board chair. “We are very appreciative of the support provided by REDIP and the progressive thinking of the Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation for recognizing the massive economic value of the outdoor industry in B.C and specifically the value of the rural economic development that KORE is creating through the innovative efforts of the KORE craft outdoor gear makers cluster in the Kootenay region.”
KORE submitted an application for this funding entitled “Rec-Tech (RE)evolution: Innovative Collaborations in Canada’s Growing Outdoor Recreation Sector.”
According to their website, koreoutdoors.org, they based this application largely upon what they learned from their 2023 Sector Survey plus the six roundtable meetings they held in Nelson, Invermere, Revelstoke, Kimberley and Fernie last summer.
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The aim of these roundtables was to, “identify the needs and opportunities for outdoor rec-tech within the Kootenays.”
KORE said this engagement provided them a strategic direction for their next two years.
For the next two years they will put this funding towards 15 different projects, that include the development of a Peer-to-Peer network, an awareness campaign at the Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival, creating multiple Makers Market events, their new KORE Outdoors Podcast and much more.
“This support will also spearhead the leading role that B.C. can play in outdoor gear up-cycling with the first steps of development of the Re-Hub, a facility that would be a first in Canada dedicated to finding solutions in keeping outdoor gear out of the landfill in creation of an outdoor gear circularity initiative,” Mosteller said.
Learn more about KORE at koreoutdoors.org