Signs of a prosperous year for economic development on the Coast have already started.
Last week we learned that funding has been secured for the initial phase of the Sechelt marine access project.
This is a project that many people have been working on for quite some time. It's an exciting project and one with a lot of potential.
What is so great about the project is the cooperation of so many different organizations.
It's no secret that governments on the Coast tend to clash on many things. Don't get us started on the Sechelt library budget or Coast-wide recreation. But with this project, business people, the merchants of Sechelt, the District of Sechelt, a local Rotary club and the Sechelt Indian Band are all working together as one to make this dream a reality.
This level of cooperation has brought $65,000 of the federal government's Western Economic Diversification (WED) funds to the table. The remaining $50,000 to cover the initial phase will come from the other partners. How can this project not be positive for Sechelt - or, for that matter, the whole Coast?
The potential for beautifying the area and creating a destination tourism attraction for Sechelt is tremendous. There is also good news coming out of Gibsons.
The Gibson Economic Development Partnership (GEDP) also received WED funds last week.
A portion of the money will be used for banners on B.C. Hydro poles on the gateway leading from the ferry terminal at Langdale. The banners will advertise what's happening on the Coast.
The money will also be used for marketing tools, which are designed to entice tourists and investors to the Sunshine Coast.
We're also anxiously awaiting word from the District of Sechelt on a community forest initiative, and a revitalized Dakota Ridge Society is aggressively pursuing Olympic Live Site funding to open the great outdoors to everyone.
It's an exciting time here on the Coast with great promise for the future.
Here's hoping the partnerships formed will continue to flourish. Our future's looking bright.
