Government of Canada invests over $12.2 million to support economic development in Peterborough, Northumberland and Kawartha Lakes

Press Release

From: Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

FedDev Ontario funds 33 projects to fuel community revitalization, support local tourism and community economic diversification

July 12, 2022 – Peterborough, Ontario

The Government of Canada is committed to supporting communities and businesses as they recover from the pandemic to position them for strong and resilient economic growth.

Today, the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), announced over $12.2 million for 33 tourism, community infrastructure and economic development projects in Peterborough, Northumberland and Kawartha Lakes. With these investments, through the Tourism Relief Fund, Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) and Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) stream, recipients will build and enhance community infrastructure, safely welcome back visitors and strengthen local economies.

The announcement was made at an event hosted by the Canadian Canoe Museum, which is receiving a non-repayable contribution of $750,000, under the Tourism Relief Fund (TRF), to outfit a 20,000-square foot Exhibition Hall at the museum’s new waterfront location on Little Lake in Peterborough. With this investment, the museum will create seven new exhibits showcasing diverse voices and perspectives from across the country, including Indigenous knowledge, languages, cultures and histories. The museum will also be able to expand educational programming to include virtual content and travelling exhibits to reach youth audiences nationally and internationally, and will be a vibrant community space for locals and tourists alike, offering unique programming and focus on Indigenous languages and heritage.

Havelock-based Kawartha Ethanol Inc., a manufacturer of corn-based fuel-grade ethanol, is also receiving a repayable investment of $2.5 million, through the CEDD, to adopt new production capabilities, reach new markets and create permanent high-quality rural jobs.

Please see the backgrounder for additional project details.

Quotes

“Our government is committed to continuing to make important investments in community economic development projects that benefit local economies. Today’s investments will help communities in Peterborough, Northumberland and Kawartha Lakes strengthen their public infrastructure and enhance their tourist attractions, while also driving resilient economic growth for the region and protecting jobs.”
– The Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“The Canadian Canoe Museum is honoured to be the recipient of this significant investment that will help create a new cultural and tourism destination on the Peterborough waterfront. This funding will contribute to the development of a brand-new suite of professionally designed exhibits that will be featured in our new museum’s 20,000 square foot Exhibition Hall. These exhibits will attract visitors from near and far to explore the canoe’s significance to Canada through diverse themes, perspectives and voices.”
– Carolyn Hyslop, Executive Director, Canadian Canoe Museum

“We appreciate FedDev Ontario’s support as we pivot our production to include health and manufacturing ingredients. This support has assisted us in developing new innovations to retool and adopt technological changes to produce supplies for the health care and other sectors through the production of a variety of high grade industrial distilled alcohol product outputs that are in demand due to the COVID-19 pandemic and to support growing demands for products previously sourced in foreign markets.”
–Steve ten Doeschate, General Manager, Kawartha Ethanol

Quick facts

• Peterborough and the Kawarthas is located in southwestern Ontario and is made up of eight rural townships – each with their own vibrant downtown areas, economies, community spaces and local festivals and events that draw visitors and tourists to the region each year. Located northeast of Toronto, Northumberland County has a highly-skilled workforce with top sectors including advanced manufacturing, agriculture, plastics, small business and tourism.
• Established in 1997, the Canadian Canoe Museum is a not-for-profit organization and unique national heritage centre that explores the canoe’s enduring significance to the peoples of Canada, through the world’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft. The Canadian Canoe Museum is preparing to move to a five-acre site in the heart of Peterborough, Ontario on the waterfront of Little Lake, with a connection to the Trans Canada Trail and surrounded by public parks.
• Operating since 2008, Kawartha Ethanol Inc. has annual capacity to produce 100 million litres of fuel-grade ethanol, a renewable fuel that burns more cleanly and completely than gasoline or diesel fuel, from corn products.
• With a national investment of $500 million over two years, the Canada Community Revitalization Fund supports projects that build new community infrastructure and revitalize existing assets, bring people back to public spaces safely and stimulate local economies. This includes $139 million for projects in southern Ontario, delivered by FedDev Ontario. The Government of Canada’s $500-million Tourism Relief Fund is helping tourism-oriented businesses and organizations recover from the pandemic and prepare for future growth, with a minimum of $50 million of the Fund allocated to supporting Indigenous-led projects or Indigenous focussed projects. FedDev Ontario is delivering nearly $120 million of the Tourism Relief Fund across southern Ontario.
• The Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD) program aims to generate sustainable, inclusive growth and help small and rural communities in southern Ontario to fully participate in, and benefit from economic opportunities.
• Since 2015, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has invested over $75 million in more than 100 projects in Northumberland County, Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes, that are estimated to create and maintain over 5,000 jobs.
• Today’s over $12.2 million Government of Canada investment is pending successful completion of signed contribution agreements.

Related products

• Backgrounder : Peterborough, Northumberland and Kawartha Lakes receive over $12.2 million to support 33 community infrastructure, tourism and economic development projects

Associated links

• Canadian Canoe Museum
• Kawartha Ethanol Inc.
• FedDev Ontario
• Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)
• Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF)
• Community Economic Development and Diversification (CEDD)

Contacts

Monica Granados
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
[email protected]

Media Relations
FedDev Ontario
[email protected]

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