Expansion of building to enable more services and amenities for visitors and locals
COURTENAY, 1 FEBRUARY 2023 – A new and expanded building will be constructed in the Town of Comox’s marina area, creating more space and opportunity for economic growth with funding support through Island Coastal Economic Trust’s Capital and Innovation Program.
The Marine Services Building project will address the lack of retail space and community services at the Comox Marina by providing an additional 2000 square feet of indoor commercial space. This will increase capacity for tourism businesses and the sector to create jobs and provide long-term economic growth for the region.
“This project builds on several initiatives carried out in the Comox Marina over the past five years that have seen a huge increase in the number of visitors from all over the world,” says Jordan Wall, CAO of the Town of Comox. “The addition of this building, including the possibility for an outdoor covered space for buskers and vendors, offers more incentive for people to come down, enjoy the marina, and support the local businesses.”
The new initiative is intended to include indoor commercial space for three, year-round commercial or retail businesses in the marine services sector, as well as a community visitors centre, public barrier-free washrooms, visitors services, and marine manager/wharfinger offices. New signage, low-impact lighting, bike racks, change rooms and sustainable landscaping is also intended to complement, renew, and revitalize the area.
“Our hope is that this new space will help ensure the Comox Marina and park area remain desirable for the ever-changing consume and competitive in key local and international markets, including marine destination travellers,” says Jordan.
The project offers several short-term and long-term benefits for the community. These impacts will enable and facilitate the expansion of marine tourism, marine industry infrastructure, the commercial seafood industry, and support for amenities needed to sustain and expand the local business as part of economic resiliency within the Town and the region.
“The Town of Comox’s project illustrates how a community is responding to and meeting rising tourism rates to the benefit of locals, visitors, and private business sector,” says Island Coastal Economic Trust Board Chair Aaron Stone. “It’s motivating to watch new projects, like these, come to life as they reflect positively on the economic and social rebound happening across our coastal communities.”
The Town of Comox project is supported through the Capital and Innovation Program. The Trust will contribute $300,000 to a total project budget of $2.1 million.
The project is now underway.
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About Island Coastal Economic Trust
Founded by the Province of British Columbia in 2006, the Island Coastal Economic Trust works to build a sustainable and resilient coastal economy in reciprocal relationships with First Nations, municipalities, and regional districts across Vancouver Island, the Sunshine Coast, and islands and inlets from the Salish Sea to Cape Caution. Serving over half a million residents, we partner with communities in the development and financing of their economic infrastructure and diversification efforts through our unique structure that is led by, and accountable to, communities.
Since our inception, Island Coastal Economic Trust has approved more than $58 million to economic development initiatives that have attracted over $308 million in new investment to our region. These investments have created over 2,750 permanent jobs, and countless positive impacts, across the coast.
Island Coastal Economic Trust acknowledges that we work for communities across the ancestral and unceded territories of the Kwak̓wala, Nuučaan̓uɫ, Éy7á7juuthem, Ligwilda’xw, Pəntl’áč,
She shashishalhem, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Hul’q’umi’num’, diitiidʔaatx̣, SENĆOŦEN, Lekwungen, and T’Sou-ke speaking peoples.
Media Contacts
Brodie Guy
CEO
Island Coastal Economic Trust
brodie@islandcoastaltrust.ca
250-871-7797
Jordan Wall
Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Comox
jwall@comox.ca
250-331-6469
