Each year, a committee struck by the City of Kimberley makes a decision on how to allocate the yearly Resort Municipality funding. Kimberley is one of 14 resort municipalities in the province who receive annual funding — generated through a hotel tax — to enhance tourism infrastructure.
Projects must have potential to attract visitors to KImberley.
Last week, Council endorsed the committee’s decision to fund two projects for a total of $43,651.
Of that $23,651 will go to the construction of beginner and intermediate trails for a bike skills park, which the Kimberley Trails Society is planning.
And $20,000 has been allocated towards the building of washrooms at Purcell Park soccer fields, a project of the Kimberley Soccer Association.
Coun. Darryl Oakley says that the skills park is quite an ambitious project by the Trails Society and people are excited about it.
Plans are in the early stages as the Trails Society is still investigating issues such as potential insurance costs. If the skills park does go forward, it will be in the Nordic Trails area.
As for the washroom project, Coun. Albert Hoglund said he doubted that washrooms could be built for $20,000 and he inquired whether the money would have to be re-allocated if the extra funds couldn’t be found.
Mayor Ron McRae said it was necessary to choose the projects now to move the funding ahead but that he thought the funds could carry forward.
Kimberley’s committee which decides on resort municipality projects is made up of 11 people from a broad cross-section of Kimberley.
The Resort Municipality Initiative is a provincial grant and the City will not have to provide matching funds. Any other funding for the projects would be leveraged by the proponents seeking other grant opportunities.