An innovative new tourism strategy in the Columbia Valley has been approved for over $100,000 in funding over three years through the Columbia Valley Community Directed Funds (CVCDF) Program.

The funding will help the Columbia Cultural Tourism Association hire a Cultural Tourism Coordinator for their ‘Place Based Cultural Tourism Strategy for the Columbia Valley.’

“The Columbia Cultural Tourism Association is taking the lead on developing a valley-wide identity for tourism in the region. This objective fits perfectly with the Columbia Valley Community Priorities Plan and the committee’s desire to promote the unique identity and exceptional amenities of the area through coordinated marketing and branding efforts,” says CVCDF Committee Chair, Electoral Area F Director Wendy Booth. “This should also help support our other goals of expanding the arts and culture sector and addressing shoulder season impacts on the valley’s economy.”

The funding for the association is contingent on the group raising an additional $20,000 per year for the coordinator position and the renewal of the Community Directed Funds Program beyond its current term, which ends in 2015.

The committee, made up of five locally elected officials and five members of the public, is a standing committee of the Regional District of East Kootenay and responsible for the CVCDF Program.

Two new community members have recently been appointed to the Committee: Canal Flats resident and ?akisqnuk community member Melanie Sam and Associate Dealer/Canadian Tire and Windermere resident Craig Knapp.

The RDEK gratefully acknowledges the financial support of Columbia Basin Trust, which supports efforts and ideas of the people of the Columbia Basin. More information about the CVCDF Program can be found on the RDEK website at www.rdek.bc.ca.

RDEK

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