Proposed aquatic science centre to receive up to $65K from City of Nanaimo
NANAIMO — The City of Nanaimo is expected to financially help organizers of a proposed downtown aquatic science centre.
Councillors at Wednesday’s finance and audit committee meeting voted 4-3 to recommend providing up to $65,000 to the Nanaimo Deep Discovery Association. The group had asked for nearly $130,000 for feasibility studies and architecture proposals after originally claiming they only needed waterfront land from the City, not money.
“If we believe it’s a good project for the City, I think we should put our money where our mouth is,” coun. Ian Thorpe said. “I think they do need some seed money and I don’t have a problem with fundraising for them. I think that’s a wise move.”
Much of the discussion Wednesday morning was whether to match money provided by other organizations up to $127,000 or simply provide half of their ask with the expectation organizers would gather the remaining funds themselves.