WELLINGTON COUNTY – The county has officially launched a new tourism experience development program, with grants up to $3,000 available for local tourism businesses.
The program began on June 2, with applications accepted online the next day.
This is a joint initiative between Waterloo Wellington Community Futures, Regional Tourism Organization 4 and the County of Wellington.
“We’ve been working closer with tourism businesses and operators for the last few years,” county manager of economic development Christina Mann told the Advertiser.
Last spring the county held a tourism product development workshop, which officials say demonstrated a “real desire and willingness by tourism businesses to engage in experienced development.”
“We noticed in a tourism space … we couldn’t offer any seed funding, so that was the [most legitimate] gap we identified,” she explained.
According to a county press release, the goal of the program is for businesses to use the grants to help develop or enhance market-ready tourism experiences that showcase the area’s “natural beauty, culinary offerings, cultural richness and rural charm.”
“We know that there is a significant opportunity and we can enhance some of those experiences to be a little bit more market ready and also foster new ones,” Mann said.
She noted a change in Canadians who are looking for a destination spot.
“We see that travel to the U.S. is down by 20 per cent by air travel … and just over 30% in car travel,
“Canadians are looking for other destinations to travel and some will be abroad but many of them will remain in Canada.
“Many will remain in Ontario.”
Available funding for projects will run from July 1 to March 15. The program will prioritize projects that support regional marketing efforts, highlight seasonal or recurring events, and encourage visitors to explore rural areas of the county, the report continues.
Eligible applicants include tourism businesses, non-profit organizations and events located in Wellington County.
“We have Elora [and] Fergus who are really leading the way in terms of being a destination for tourists,” she said. “Now we want to see if there is opportunity to leverage that and show people what else Wellington County has to offer.”
Mann has high hopes the county will receive a good uptake in its first year.
The county has allocated $5,000 towards the program from the budget.
“Partners are matching or even contributing a larger portion depending on the quality and quantity of applications,” Mann said.
She encourages potential applicants to reach out beforehand to ensure their project meets the criteria.
“While this funding focuses on more of the soft costs, including marketing, materials and small capital-type expenses … there is other funding businesses could take advantage of if they are looking to renovate,” she explained.
Mann said in most municipalities funding is available through a community improvement fund to support site renovations.
For more information about the county program visit wwcf.ca/wctourismgrant.
