As B.C. experiences some of its strongest tourism growth in years, with a record number of international visitors during the first half of the year, Fernie is receiving $303,127 from the province’s Resort Municipality Initiative (RMI) to support its tourism industry.

Through the province’s RMI, Fernie has received a total of $3,140,650 since 2009 in funding toward projects including (but not limited to): recreation trail development, cultural and heritage tourism events and festivals, museum and information centre improvements, downtown beatification, boat launch reconstruction, visitor signage and a winter ski shuttle.

The RMI provides $10.5 million each year to help eligible resort-oriented municipalities to develop and enhance their tourism infrastructure and amenities. RMI communities include Whistler, Fernie, Kimberley, Golden, Harrison Hot Springs, Invermere, Osoyoos, Radium Hot Springs, Revelstoke, Rossland, Sun Peaks, Tofino, Ucluelet and Valemount.

Since the RMI’s inception in 2006, more than $108.6 million has been invested in tourism infrastructure and programs to support local and regional tourism economies in the 14 participating communities.

“RMI funding plays an important role in supporting communities like Fernie as they welcome visitors from throughout our country and around the world. I’m glad to see the continuation of the RMI program this year as we are seeing more and more tourists frequenting the Elk Valley,” said Bill Bennett, MLA for Kootenay East and Minister of Energy and Mines.

“The City of Fernie is pleased to receive funding from the Resort Municipality Initiative. Council is working with our advisory group to make sure that the funding is allocated between projects to achieve the best possible results for our community, its residents and its visitors,” noted Mary Giuliano, Mayor of Fernie.

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