Board approves 290K for Cowichan visitors' centre

February 22, 2012

A new regional visitors' centre for the Cowichan Valley is closer to becoming a reality.

The Cowichan Valley Regional District board has agreed to grant $293,000 toward the new centre. However, that’s less than half of what the Chamber of Commerce was asking. They projected just over $600,000 was needed to match a grant from the Island Coastal Economic Trust, or ICE-T.

The chair of the CVRD board, Rob Hutchins, explained that the new figure and alternate plan for the centre was presented to the board, requiring less money from them.

“For the majority of directors, that was an acceptable amount to requisition over a five-year period to partner with the Duncan Chamber of Commerce, the city of Duncan, North Cowichan, as well as the Forest Museum, as well as ICE-T.”

It means the tourism facility will have to cut back on certain luxuries, such as paving the entire parking lot.

At the board meeting Wednesday afternoon, there were 32 votes in favour of awarding the grant, and 13 against.

The Chamber of Commerce has been working on plans for a regional tourism centre for six years to replace the tiny one hidden away off the Trans-Canada Highway in Duncan.