Huron-Bruce MPP Lisa Thompson announced new funding available from the government for local festivals and events.
A release states that festival and event organizers can apply for the provincial government’s newly announced Reconnect Ontario fund. The fund is a 20 million dollar investment from the province to "provide support to municipalities and festival and event organizers that are creating innovative ways to help Ontarians reconnect with their communities once it is safe to do so." Any funding granted through applications can be used for programming and production, promotion, mobile applications and website development, and implementation of health and safety measures.
The funding program is to help offer safe experiences that encourage people to travel locally, increase tourism, and provide jobs for Ontarians to work in festivals and events.
“While we all have been impacted by the pandemic, tourism, sporting and cultural events have been especially hit hard,” Thompson says. “That’s why this program is important to help them continue to operate and celebrate together with the community.”
To be eligible, an event must:
-take place between April 1, 2022, and March 31, 2023. -occur in the province of Ontario (if an in-person event) or be produced in Ontario (if a broadcast or virtual event). -be open to the public at large without membership in a club or group. -follow all municipal and provincial guidelines, including health and safety guidelines.
Program guidelines and application form can be found online at www.ontario.ca/page/available-funding-opportunities-ontario-government. The 2022 application period is now open, and applications will be accepted until Feb. 2, 2022 at 5 p.m. EST.