Maria Canton
Northern News Services

NNSL (July 19/99) - The Fort Smith Visitor Centre is out of money and its fate will be decided today in an emergency meeting.

Members from the Chamber of Commerce and the Town of Fort Smith will meet for the second time after last week's announcement that the centre was out of money.

"We need a minimum of $12,000 to stay open for the rest of the season," says chamber member Clayton Burke.

"If the centre closes it will have a devastating effect on our community. We won't be able to properly inform people or market ourselves."

The chamber operates the Visitor Centre, which runs from May to June, and has traditionally received grants from various government agencies.

"Last week RWED (Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development) said there was no more money for us," says Burke.

RWED has already contributed $4,700 to the centre for this season's operations, about a fifth of the $24,000 required for wages, building upkeep and operational costs.

At last week's meeting, suggestions of raffles and auctions were put forward as a means of raising the necessary funds.