Prince George, B.C. – Improvements to Barkerville Historic Town aren’t far off thanks to help from Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT).

This as the Trust’s board of directors has approved $181,491 in grant funding to be used to help expand the visitor centre and off-season programming.

Photo courtesy Barkerville Historic Town

The upgrades will allow Barkerville to provide services such as food, equipment rentals, washrooms, first aid and a place to warm-up during the winter.

The project’s grant represents about 38% of the total project budget of $475,090. The proposed upgrades will allow Barkerville to take the first steps towards expanding from seasonal to year-round operations.

In 2015, Barkerville welcomed about 60,000 visitors and that number is expected to reach close to 65,000 this year.

This isn’t the first time NDIT has lent the popular tourist attraction a hand. It also recently funded the Barkerville Magic Carpet Tube Run and the 2016 Mid-Autumn Moon Chinese Festival.