Over 98K in Support of Mattawa Voyageur Days
August 2, 2022Funding helped reconnect community and boost Mattawa’s economy
NIPISSING – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government has invested $98,975 to the Town of Mattawa to support Mattawa Voyageur Days through the Reconnect Ontario Program.
“Our government recognizes the important contributions that festivals and events make to local communities,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “We are pleased to provide support to event organizers right here at home in creating safe, innovative experiences that will help reconnect people while boosting our local economy and creating local jobs.”
“The Town of Mattawa is so thankful to have received this funding for Mattawa Voyageur Days. Hosting a festival after COVID has been a challenge and with rising inflation costs this funding will allow us to be in a revenue neutral position,” said Laura Ross, Municipal Councillor. “The economic and social impact on our small community is vital to our local businesses.”
Reconnect Ontario is a provincial grant program that supports festivals and events that encourage local tourism and motivate visitors to rediscover Ontario, while reconnecting people with local experiences and increasing tourism spending. The program is receiving $42.9 million in 2022 to support 547 festivals and events around the province.
Ontario is also providing $5.2 million to events through the Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster Program and to Luminato. The Reconnect Ontario – Marquee Event Fund (foramlly the Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster program) supports municipalities and organizations in Ontario that host large-scale, high-impact signature events.
QUICK FACTS
- Tourism is a key economic driver in Ontario, supporting approximately 395,000 jobs and generating over $38 billion in spending.
- This investment is a continuation of the historic one-time COVID recovery funding announced in 2021 that more than doubled the annual funding usually provided to festivals and events.
- In 2021, due to overwhelming demand, the government provided a historic $49 million through the Reconnect Festival and Event Program (now Reconnect Ontario) and the Reconnect Ontario – Marquee Event Fund (fomally Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster).