Keremeos Mayor Manfred Bauer met with Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation Regional Economics Operations Manager Myles Bruns following a “Coffee with the Mayor” session on Friday, January 24.
Along with representatives of Similkameen Country – Chris Mathieson and Traci Russell – the four toured Keremeos’ Seventh Avenue, where Bruns expressed surprise at the recent reversal of fortune on the village’s main street.
“It’s really encouraging, and rather unusual, especially this time of year, to see so many new businessess on the main street,” he said.
“It presents an opportunity for the village to build some momentum.”
Bruns said that he and Bauer were discussing ways, the village could take advantage of that momentum, and get some economic-building leverage out of it.
“What’s particularly good about the new business is the fact that these are services the local population can use,” Bruns added.
In the past couple of months, Keremeos has seen the opening of Emmy’s Bakery, the Main Events Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts Studio, K Mountain Massage Therapy, and The Paw Spa pet grooming centre.
Bruns said the province has a number of initiatives available to help small business in small communities, and he and Bauer were currently discussing which one would best suit Keremeos.
“It’s great that Keremeos has a mayor who is interested in pursuing business growth, “ Bruns said, “he keeps in constant touch with my office, seeking opportunities to get the business community together, and working with the regional tourism strategy – to get everyone on the same page in an economic strategy for the village.”
