News Releases

November 9, 2016

The Manitoba government has awarded grants to 29 rural, northern and Indigenous tourism and community organizations through the Tourism Development Fund, Growth, Enterprise and Trade Minister Cliff Cullen announced today.

“Manitoba has unique and exciting destinations that should be shared with visitors from around the world,” said Cullen.  “The Tourism Development Fund is set up to assist communities and local organizations in expanding and promoting their unique Manitoba stories.  These grants will help local communities improve the experience of visitors to all parts of our magnificent province, which will in turn contribute to the significant and growing impact the tourism industry has on our province’s economy.”

Under Manitoba’s new government, the Tourism Development Fund has increased by more than 50 per cent to $297,000 for 2016-17 and has seen an uptake in applications for funding, the minister said, noting that today’s announcement includes grants to six northern organizations totalling $63,125.

“Our government has been developing relationships with northern Manitobans and seeking their advice for long-term solutions,” added Cullen.  “Our entire province’s economy will benefit from successful northern enterprise and we look forward to working with the successful applicants as they implement their local projects.”

These development grants will help rural, northern and Indigenous tourism and community organizations to attract more visitors to Manitoba through startup and expanded tourism products and experiences, the minister said.

“These grants will help the regional tourism industry to promote unique tourism experiences throughout the province,” said Colin Ferguson, president and CEO, Travel Manitoba.  “In addition to the major tourist attractions, there is so much more to see and do in this province.  The tourism development grants will help both attract attention and more visitors.”

Tourism generates more than $1.6 billion in economic activity across Manitoba including both permanent and seasonal jobs.  The Manitoba government has committed to efforts that support the expansion of tourism-related opportunities and has also increased funding to Travel Manitoba under Plan 96/4, an investment that will allow Travel Manitoba to expand marketing campaigns targeting Canada, the United States and overseas travellers, Cullen said.

Grant recipients include (grant organization and approved amount):

• Arborg and District Multicultural Heritage Village Inc. – $9,000;
• Asessippi Parkland Tourism – $3,615;
• Buffalo Point First Nation – $11,000;
• Churchill Ladies Club – $10,000;
• City of Selkirk – $6,000
• Cypress River – Holland Community Development Corporation – $3,579;
• Fort la Reine Museum – $10,000;
• Friends of Historic St. Michael;s Ukrainian Orthodox Church – $2,500;
• Gilbert Plains Recreation Commission – $8,209;
• Gimli Glider Museum Inc. – $10,000;
• Homes for the Holidays Red River North – $9,400
• Louis Riel Institute – $17,449;
• Municipality of Emerson-Franklin – $10,000;
• Musée St. Joseph Museum Inc.– $10,000;
• Partnership of the Manitoba Capital Region Inc. (PMCR) – $25,000;
• Prairie Fruit Growers Association – $4,000;
• Rural Municipality of Grahamdale Community Development Corporation – $3,500;
• Rural Municipality of Taché – $18,900;
• Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve – $6,227;
• Riverdale Community Development Corporation – $8,000;
• Souris and Glenwood Community Development Corporation – $8,500;
• Spirit Way Inc. – $8,500;
• Swan Valley RISE – $17,250;
• Thompson Chamber of Commerce – $14,625;
• Thompson Zoological Society – $7,500;
• Tourism North Manitoba – $15,000;
• Town of Lynn Lake – $7,500;
• Town of Melita – $6,000; and
• Vita Community Recreation Centre – $10,000.

A complete list of grant recipients can be found at:
www.gov.mb.ca/jec/tourism_sec/tourism_dev_fund.html.

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