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For Immediate Release Ministry
of Community Development, Feb. 5, 2001 |
GREENWOOD’S MINING PAST OFFERS TOURISM POTENTIAL
GREENWOOD – One of B.C.’s oldest cities will receive up to $45,000 in Community Enterprise funding to turn its rich mining history into a tourist attraction.
Ed Conroy, minister responsible for rural development, made the announcement today on behalf of Jenny Kwan, minister of community development, cooperatives and volunteers.
“Greenwood plans to create future jobs by promoting its historic past,” Conroy said. “Six local organizations and the municipal government will work together on this project, which will build community pride and ensure Greenwood can continue to offer opportunities for its residents and their families.”
The Greenwood Community Association, a registered charity that supports small community-based projects and organizations, will receive $25,000 to study the potential of turning the Greenwood power substation building at the entrance to the city into a mining heritage interpretive centre with complementary business ventures. The brick substation, donated to the community by West Kootenay Power, was built at the turn of the last century. It contains some of the original electrical equipment used to supply power to the city’s developing mines and copper smelter a hundred years ago.
The study will include a detailed business plan, with organizational, marketing and financial planning. If it shows the project is viable, the community will receive $20,000 to establish the services of the centre and provide staff training.
“Greenwood is working hard to preserve its heritage, which will have long-term benefits for residents and visitors,” said Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Doyle. “It’s important for communities to build on their strengths to diversify their economies and create valuable community assets.”
“We know there is a great deal of interest in our area’s mining history because visitors frequently ask about the smelter site and the abandoned mines,” said city Council member Colleen Lang, who is also president of the Greenwood Community Association. “We also recognize that for this project to be sustainable, we need more than an interpretive centre and gift shop, so we will look at the feasibility of complementary businesses such as reproducing museum photographs and restoring mining heritage artifacts.”
Community Enterprise provides support to communities to put economic and social development plans in place. It is a partnership program that requires community support, either in kind or in cash. Major contributors for this project include: the City of Greenwood, the Community Futures Development Corp. Boundary Area, the Ministry of Municipal Affairs, the Greenwood Heritage Society, the Greenwood Board of Trade, The Greenwood Improvement Society, the Greenwood Community Association, the Boundary Historical Society, West Kootenay Power and project consultant Larry Widmer.
Further information about Community Enterprise is available from provincial government agents’ offices and regional development and delivery agencies. Application information is also available at www.cdcv.gov.bc.ca on the Community Enterprise Web site. For more information call 1- 877-777-1533.
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Government Contact: (250) 387-0759 |
Project Contact: (250) 445-6558 |
For information on this program and the government website