The hospitality, tourism and sport sector have taken a big hit because of COVID-19 but the provincial government is putting together funding to help the industry emerge stronger once the pandemic is over.
The Honorable Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries Lisa MacLeod announced $3.25 million in tourism support for RTO 11, the vast tourism region stretching between Ottawa, Algonquin Park, the Quebec border and just south of Highway 7.
MacLeod was joined by Laurie Scott, Minister of Infrastructure and MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, John Yakabuski, Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry and MPP for Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke, and Daryl Kramp, MPP for Hastings-Lennox and Addington to make the announcement.
Hastings-Lennox and Addington is receiving over $258,000 in funding.
This includes library and other support of $74,803 going to 10 communities, $28,100 to the Kijicho Manito Madaouskarini Algonquin First Nation to plan a program to support entrepreneurs, $4,918 for Tweed and Company Theatre, $6,622 for the Tweed Elvis Festival and $15,000 for the Tweed Stampede and Jamboree.
Kramp says the hospitality industry was hit hard and communities truly welcome the news.
He said this funding investment is just another example of the government paying attention to what communities need.
The government is also investing over $150,000 in local festivals and events through the Celebrate Ontario program to help reinvigorate our province’s $36 billion tourism industry that supports over 400,000 jobs.
