Media Release
September 21, 2020, Bruce County, ON – After a successful first year, a second round of the “Spark” Mentorship & Grants Program has been announced for Bruce County to encourage residents, small businesses and non-profit organizations to create new sustainable tourism ideas for the Bruce Peninsula.
The program matches selected applicants with a tourism mentor and provides a $3,000 grant to help take their new sustainable tourism ideas to the next level of development. The goal is to find, foster and support new tourism ideas, experiences, and partnerships. Innovation in the tourism industry is critical for the region to respond, adapt and recover from the significant impacts of the evolving travel landscape as the result of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis.
The Bruce County “Spark” Mentorship & Grants Program is a partnership between Bruce County, Bruce Power, Municipality of Northern Bruce Peninsula, Town of South Bruce Peninsula, Bruce Grey Simcoe (Regional Tourism Organization 7) and the Ontario Tourism Innovation Lab.
“Spark aims to encourage tourism entrepreneurs to offer more sustainable experiences and unique or enhanced tourism activities so that we can continue to support our tourism sector while maintaining our environment,” says Kara Van Myall, Bruce County’s Director of Planning and Development.
“Bruce Power is pleased to support the goals of the “Spark” Mentorship and Grants program,” said Mike Rencheck, President & CEO. “Innovation is a part of our company culture and this program aligns with our approach to acknowledging and rewarding the development of new ideas in this changing landscape that will promote economic growth in our community.”
Applications will be accepted from September 21st to October 23rd, 2020. Following a juried review process, the finalists will be invited to a Pitch Session where three winners will be selected.
For more information on the Bruce County “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program, application guide and Info Sessions, visit www.tourisminnovation.ca/bruce. Bruce County is an upper-tier municipality in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, made up of 8 lower-tier municipalities and 68,423 residents. The explorers who visit, live, and work here are the dreamers who take roads less travelled and see tried and true as an invitation to try something new. Be an Explorer and call Bruce County home.
