Kimberley is bustling.

Between events, the weekly farmer’s market, construction, new businesses, and tourism there is a tangible sense of energy and momentum in the community.

Thus far in 2016 there has been $9.7 million in new construction permits issued in Kimberley, up 32% over 2015 and more than double 2014. With 23 new single-family homes permitted up to August and several more in the approvals queue, new home construction is on pace for a 40% increase over 2015. Commercial construction has seen healthy gains as well. With building and facade improvements going on in every direction the commercial vacancy rate is the lowest it has been since 2011.

Kimberley is not alone in its busy construction climate. Cranbrook has seen an eruption of residential construction with 46 new dwellings permitted in 2016, up from a few dozen in 2015.

This is an illustration of the strength in the Cranbrook-Kimberley corridor, where combined residential construction activity thus far in 2016 is worth over $25 million, and jumps to over $30 million when residential construction in the surrounding rural areas is included.

And tourism is enjoying an excellent year. Visitation in 2016 is up nearly 16% over this time in 2015 as measured by the additional hotel room tax collected. According to Tourism Kimberley Executive Director Jesse Ferguson, “Kimberley is getting noticed and its cool factor is growing. There has not been a week this past summer that I have not hosted a travel writer or journalist who think we have a story worth telling.”

Events like the Single Track 6, the Black Spur Ultra marathon, the Kootenay Rockies Gran Fondo, the Medieval Festival (lead image), Motor Mountain National Car Show, Kimberley Kaleidoscope, JulyFest, Provincial Mine Rescue & First Aid Competition, and First Saturdays have kept the community hopping nearly every weekend throughout the summer and into the autumn, supported by growth in the thousands of visitors coming to the community for events at the Conference Centre.

“The relationship between tourism and investment is well documented. Once people experience Kimberley as visitors they are far more likely to build a home, move or start a business. That’s why the city and the chamber work closely with Tourism Kimberley to ensure continuity in our messaging and to make sure information is available to support decision-making,” said municipal Economic Development Officer Kevin Wilson.

The Kimberley Visitor Centre has fielded 234 relocation inquiries in 2016 – that’s an increase of 90% over all of 2015.

“This impressive statistic illustrates how strength in tourism is driving investment,” Wilson said.

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