Prince Rupert is moving closer to being able to accommodate more recreational boat traffic with news today that the community was successful in its application for $250,000 from the West Coast Community Adjustment Program.
The funding, which was applied for back in June, will be used to help construct a 700-foot-long floating wharf on the Cow Bay waterfront that is expected to cost $1.7 million to construct.
"It's a project put together through the Prince Rupert and Port Edward Economic Development Commission in conjunction with the Prince Rupert Port Authority, and with interest from the Yacht Club, the Port Edward Harbour Authority and groups in town that recognize that there are a lot of vessels transiting along the coast of BC or up from the lower 48 states heading to Alaska that won't stop in Prince Rupert because we don't have the infrastructure to support them," said Prince Rupert mayor Jack Mussallem.
"This will be a quarter-million dollars in seed money to put together with other money to create a facility for recreational boaters."
About 1,200 itinerant yachts sail past Prince Rupert every year without ever stopping here. Its believed the reason for this is that the city only has 10 slips that yachts can dock at. If the new wharf is built it will add an additional 32. The hope is that the additional space will attract the yachts – and their passengers’ money – to town.
The West Coast Community Adjustment Program is a fund set aside for 13 coastal communities who have been identified as having experienced hardship to help build marine infrastructure or other community projects.
"The money was applied for though Community Futures, with certain criteria having to be met. It was then sent [for review], and in this case we were fortunate to have our application accepted," said mayor Mussallem.
"It's another great opportunity for Prince Rupert.