RTO8 delivers $2.8-million for 37 businesses, through the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, to attract visitors and support future growth
For Immediate Release
October 5th, 2022, Hastings, Ontario
Today, Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) announced support for 37 tourism businesses and organizations in Kawarthas Northumberland to recover from the pandemic and prepare for future growth.
RTO8 received $2.8-million through the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to help local tourism organizations and businesses safely welcome back visitors, recover from the impacts of the pandemic, create jobs and prepare for future growth.
This includes the Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce, who is receiving $100,000 to enhance the visitor experience by providing interior and exterior improvements, such as the upgrading of the visitor centre in Campbellford, the installation of an EV charging station in Warkworth Ontario, the installation of six permanent message centres throughout Trent Hills, and much more.
“Funding through the Tourism Relief Fund is a tremendous support that will provide us with opportunities for marketing, tourism development and infrastructure projects to increase visitor spending in Trent Hills on both a short- and long-term basis. We appreciate the federal government’s contribution to support the tourism economy in Trent Hills, vital to the success of local festivals and events, thriving downtown communities and the business community.”
– Nancy Allanson, Chief Executive Officer, Trent Hills Chamber of Commerce
Click here to see the full list of recipients
Quotes
“The Government of Canada’s $78-million investment through the Tourism Relief Fund is helping communities across southern Ontario. With this funding, southern Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organizations and Indigenous Tourism Ontario are providing hundreds of local businesses and organizations with the support they need to create jobs, attract more visitors and grow local economies, now and into the future.”
-The Honourable Filomina Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
“The Canadian tourism sector continues to be one of the most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We are fully committed to supporting businesses and organizations through these challenging times, keeping safety as the top priority while ensuring they get support to quickly recover, innovate their products and services, and thrive. The Tourism Relief Fund will help businesses/organizations adapt, make improvements, and be ready to welcome back guests. It also feeds into a broader strategy to help the sector survive the pandemic, recover and grow. The Canadian economy will not fully recover until our tourism sector recovers.”
-The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance
“We at RTO8 are thrilled to be able to deliver the Tourism Relief Fund to Kawarthas Northumberland. The funding provided by FedDev Ontario will continue to support our region’s vibrant and authentic tourism industry.”
-Brenda Wood, Executive Director, RTO8
Quick facts
RTO8 exists to support a competitive and sustainable regional tourism industry, attract visitors, generate economic activity and create jobs. We work with industry partners to build up the Kawarthas Northumberland region through experience development, investment, marketing, and workforce development.
The Government of Canada’s $2.8-million investment in RTO8 is part of an over $78-million investment for ITO and RTOs in southern Ontario.
The Government of Canada’s $500-million Tourism Relief Fund is helping tourism-oriented businesses and organizations recover from the pandemic and prepare for future growth. FedDev Ontario is delivering nearly $120 million of the Tourism Relief Fund across southern Ontario.
Associated Links
– RTO8
– FedDev Ontario
– Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)
Contacts
Brenda Wood
Executive Director
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8)
Brenda.wood@rto8.com
Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca
About RTO8
Regional Tourism Organization 8 (RTO8) is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport to promote regional tourism activity in the area that is now branded as Kawarthas Northumberland. It was created through the Tourism Competitiveness Study completed in 2009. To learn more about RTO8, please visit the RTO8 Website, or find us on LinkedIn and Facebook.
About FedDev Ontario
For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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