$50k for wine-capital brand

Photo: Contributed

The 'Wine Capital of Canada' got a big boost to push its brand.

The Town of Oliver, which trademarked the slogan more than a decade ago, received approval for a rural dividend grant of $50,000 from the provincial government.

Mayor Ron Hovanes said the funds will be spent on that branding, which is part of a bigger scheme of the downtown action plan that was introduced earlier this year. 

"We want to build on (the wine-capital brand) and expand on it. We decided a long time ago that it's not good enough just to put signs at the entrance and exit of your community," he said. "We're thinking maybe now is the time to refresh it."

Hovanes added that with a full-service hotel coming to Oliver, he thinks now is a good time to engage further in the brand.

Hovanes couldn't provide specific details of the project which is in its infancy, but said a committee will be appointed at Monday's council meeting. 

A feasibility study done in March identified the rural dividend grant as a funding opportunity for the branding project.