Powell River Regional District directors divvied up funds from the economic development budget during a recent rural services committee meeting.
Directors considered requests from both Tourism Powell River (TPR) and Powell River Regional Economic Development Society (PRREDS).
TPR had requested $20,000 for the following: summer student program, $5,000; tourism information signage, $5,000; sports and recreation grant and bid writing support session, $2,100; facilities inventory enhancement, $2,900; Powell River insider cultural website, $5,000.
Directors passed a motion to provide $5,000 for the summer student program.
Patrick Brabazon, Area A director, said he had some difficulty with the request for $20,000, especially in light of the fact that directors had previously agreed to provide $7,000 to Gibsons and District Chamber of Commerce for a visitor information park near the Langdale ferry terminal. He did support the summer student program, however, which he said provided “great value” to the community.
Colin Palmer, board chair and Electoral Area C director, pointed out that the regional district operates five regional parks, which involve tourists. Included in the $547,000 parks budget is $10,000 for maintaining Goat 2. The regional district has entered into an agreement with the provincial government to become a partner in maintaining Goat 2 to provide ATV and hiking access to the backcountry.
As well, the regional district has put $60,000 into the parks and greenspace plan, for beach access for local people and tourists, said Palmer. “It’s not as if we’re not involved in encouraging tourists or encouraging local people to move around in the area,” he said. “I’d like to get that myth out of our minds that we’re not involved in tourism.”
The $5,000 is funded from the economic development service. There was about $20,000 in the draft budget that hadn’t been allocated and which could have been allocated without changing the requisition.
PRREDS asked for $22,800 to hire an individual to assist in implementing the Powell River economic development plan for agriculture and the Texada Island economic development action plan.
Directors agreed to that request.
