Do you have an innovative idea that could attract tourists to the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry areas? If so, the United Counties of SDG may be interested in speaking with you.

Applications for this year’s SDG Regional Tourism Grant Program officially opened earlier this month. The annual program includes a grant to help existing businesses and organizations drive traffic to SDGs through tourism initiatives and attractions. Grants from US $ 2,500 to US $ 5,000 are awarded. The budget for the entire program is $ 25,000.

“Interested parties are asked to complete a detailed application that includes a brief history of the organization, a list of members if applicable, details of your event or program, and an overview of where the requested funds will be used,” said SDG Tourism co-coordinator Karina Belanger. “With COVID-19, which will again dominate the tourism landscape this summer, we recognize that the support of operators and organizations in our region is an essential factor for their success.”

The Regional Tourism Grant program is specifically tailored to support tourism businesses and organizations in SDG while focusing on new ideas or expanding an existing event or attraction.

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Last year, a total of 26 applications were received for the program. Belanger expects the county will receive roughly the same number of applications this year as the program has already aroused some interest since it was recently launched.

“The tourism sector has been hit extremely hard by COVID and many operators have had to cancel events and change the way they do business,” she said. “Regional tourism Grant does not have a specific COVID-19 focus, but I expect to see many creative applications that take the current climate into account. “

Belanger said some of the applicants admitted last year failed to host their event due to the pandemic. These recipients were therefore given the first right to refuse to use the funds that year if they intended to move their events forward.

Anyone wishing to submit an application must do so by 12 noon on March 30th. The applications are then examined by a committee made up of two SDG council members plus Belanger and one SDG employee. Only one application can be submitted per organization and year.

Applicants will be notified by mid-April and the funds will be distributed until the budget is approved. To download an application, please visit sdgcounties.ca/tourism/grant.

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