FedDev Ontario supports Greater Peterborough Region tourism sector

News release

From: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

Minister Monsef announces $500,000 to support the recovery of the Greater Peterborough Region’s tourism sector, maintaining 100 jobs

May 27, 2021 — Peterborough, Ontario

Peterborough Region’s tourism industry is essential to the vitality of businesses and communities in the area and is a key source of local jobs. The sector has been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic over the past year, and tourism operators and business owners are working to build back stronger when the sector can safely reopen.

Today, the Honourable Maryam Monsef, Member of Parliament for Peterborough—Kawartha and Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development, on behalf of the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for FedDev Ontario, announced a non-repayable investment of $500,000 for Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development to support the tourism industry’s recovery in the Peterborough Region.

With this investment, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is providing non-repayable contributions of up to $20,000 to more than 50 local tourism-oriented businesses to support costs associated with adapting to public health measures and safely reopening. This includes support for space renovations and retrofits, the purchase of equipment, fixtures and personal protective equipment, as well as support for technology and digitization. It is also protecting about 100 jobs. The fund is being delivered in partnership with the Peterborough CFDC, the City of Peterborough, the eight townships of the County of Peterborough, Hiawatha First Nation and Curve Lake First Nation. With First Nations collaborators, the partners are providing targeted support to Indigenous-led businesses within the community.

With this support, Peterborough-area businesses like the Showplace Performance Centre were able to add “touch-free” amenities and purchase specialized cleaning equipment to be able to safely welcome guests back to the performance centre in the future. Escape Maze was able to purchase digital equipment to adapt its core business with an online component. In addition, the company is now co-promoting and supporting other businesses.

The Government of Canada is working to support these businesses and communities by helping to maintain jobs and prepare the tourism sector for a strong comeback in the future.

Quotes

“The Greater Peterborough Region has long been known for its hospitality, and our local pride is evident in the tourism businesses that operate here. Today’s investment is directly supporting more than 50 of our local tourism-oriented businesses and maintaining about 100 valuable jobs in our area.”
– The Honourable Maryam Monsef, Member of Parliament for Peterborough—Kawartha and Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Rural Economic Development

“The past year has presented serious challenges for our economy, and the tourism sector has been particularly hard-hit. Our Government is proud to support local businesses in Peterborough and the Kawarthas’ tourism sector as they adapt to COVID-19 realities and prepare to welcome back visitors as soon as it is safe to do so.”
– The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“Peterborough & the Kawarthas is a sought-after, natural and authentic destination that typically welcomes over three million visitors each year. We are pleased to partner with Community Futures Peterborough to offer this much-needed funding from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario to assist our hard hit, tourism-dependent businesses during these difficult times.”
– Rhonda Keenan, President and CEO, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development

“Showplace is thrilled to receive funding through the PKED Tourism Resiliency Project. Through this fund, we have been able to adjust parts of our facility to be “touch free” as well as purchasing specialized cleaning equipment. Our industry has been one of the hardest hit during the pandemic being among the first to close and will be one of the last to reopen, so we’re so grateful to have this funding to do these kinds of projects so that when the day comes that we can gather again, Showplace Performance Centre will be ready to welcome everyone in!”
– Emily Martin, GM Showplace Performance Centre

“The PKED Tourism Resiliency Fund has enabled Escape Maze to adapt our business in a unique way to create a new revenue stream to continue to attract and serve our customers during COVID-19.”
– Fred Preddy, Escape Maze Incorporated

Quick facts

• In Ontario, tourism and supporting industries account for $39.4 billion of GDP and directly and indirectly support more than 820,000 jobs.
• The investment in Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development is part of $5.35 million in support for similar projects to support the tourism sector’s recovery across Eastern Ontario, which are anticipated to support 480 businesses in the region.
• This project is part of a series of investments across southern Ontario totaling $14.8 million to support the region’s tourism sector in adapting to the impacts of COVID-19.
• Since November 1, 2015, FedDev Ontario has invested over $165 million in nearly 500 tourism-related projects. This includes over $93 million for 322 Regional Relief and Recovery Fund projects.
• Subject to parliamentary approval, Budget 2021 proposes $500 million over two years through the Tourism Relief Fund for local tourism businesses to adapt their products and services to public health measures, recover from the pandemic and position themselves for growth; and $200 million over two years to support major festivals and events. Subject to Parliamentary approval, these measures will be delivered by the regional development agencies, including FedDev Ontario in southern Ontario.