2023-01-06 — The District of Clearwater is pleased to announce the successful application of $10,000 to support economic development, as well as the appointment of Mayor Merlin Blackwell to the ETSI-BC Thompson-Okanagan Regional Advisory Committee (RAC).
As a member of the Thompson-Okanagan RAC, Mayor Blackwell and other committee members fulfill their role by providing advice to the Board on funding suitable projects, as well as opportunities for communities and regions with a population under 500.
“I’m very happy to be appointed to the ETSI-BC committee. It’s crucial to have experienced, regionally diverse representation on ETSI-BC in order to truly understand the needs of all communities across the vast ETSI-BC region,” said Mayor Blackwell. “I can throw a North Thompson specific lens on things, while still representing the interests of the greater TNRD.”
There are two RACs throughout the ETSI-BC service area, which consist of local government officials and MLAs. The Thompson-Okanagan RAC includes 18 members, 15 of which are local elected officials from each of six regional districts and the remaining three MLAs. Mayor Blackwell, along with Director of Area M David Laird and Councillor Julie Kimmel from the Municipality of Sun Peaks, will represent the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of ETSI-BC which will focus on wayfinding and signage. The District has received $10,000 to complete three activities in the spring and summer of 2023.
“Us Clearwater locals take for granted that we know where everything is in our town with three distinct commercial districts,” said Mayor Blackwell. “This ETSI-BC grant for wayfinding and signage will help us show the rest of the world where to find Clearwater businesses and local attractions and amenities — it’s funding for a project that is long overdue.”
An exciting component will be a reimbursement program for businesses with a storefront that are planning to update their signage in 2023. Details about the application process for this program will be released in February.
Additionally, there will be a high-level signage audit performed in the community in the spring, with results presented to the community for feedback. The District plans to install a few new community signs next year and feedback from the community on location, wording, and general look will be an important component to this program’s success.
“We are very excited to bring this project to the community as it not only allows us to focus on an activity from the Economic Development Strategy but is a project where the community will see tangible results literally in the ground,” said Wylie Bystedt, Economic Development Officer for the DOC.
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For more information contact:
Wylie Bystedt
Economic Development Officer
250-674-2257
edo@docbc.ca