Government of Canada supports Uxbridge BIA through the Tourism Relief Fund

The Township of Uxbridge Business Improvement Area (BIA) received $100,000 grant from Central Counties Tourism through FedDev Ontario to boost economic viability of the downtown by provide a welcoming experience for visitors.  Some of the investments included rejuvenating the Brock Street Parkette, providing weekend access to public washrooms and the “Hop-on / Hop-off” trolley experience during the summer months and to once again be able to provide the “Santa Hut” to the residents of Uxbridge.

This investment helps the Township of Uxbridge revitalize the downtown and supports economic recovery through tourism as the community adapts and recovers from COVID to attract new visitors and drive economic growth in the Township of Uxbridge.

The Township of Uxbridge has a vibrant tourism sector which is vital to the economy and jobs locally and throughout the Region of Durham. Known as the “Trail Capital of Canada”, the Township is pleased to be welcoming back cyclists, trail visitors and daytrippers from the GTA for our shopping, dining, nature, and small-town experiences.   

The BIA is grateful to receive a non-repayable contribution of $100,000 from Central Counties Tourism to build a stronger and more competitive tourism industry. This is part of the Government of Canada’s Tourism Relief Fund, delivered by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).  Central Counties Tourism received $8.65 million from FedDev Ontario to help 118 local tourism organizations and businesses safely welcome back visitors, recover from the impacts of the pandemic and prepare for future growth. 

This investment will help businesses in the local BIA and area adapt and recover to attract new visitors and drive economic growth in York, Durham, and Headwaters regions.

Quotes

“The Government of Canada’s $78-million investment through the Tourism Relief Fund is helping communities across southern Ontario. With this funding, southern Ontario’s Regional Tourism Organizations and Indigenous Tourism Ontario are providing hundreds of local businesses and organizations with the support they need to create jobs, attract more visitors and grow local economies, now and into the future.”

-The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario

“The visitor economy creates thriving, vibrant communities across Ontario. Visitors bring new money into a community and for many businesses in York, Durham and Headwaters, these additional revenues can mean the difference between staying solvent and having to shutter their doors forever. Central Counties Tourism applauds the Government of Canada for recognizing the importance of growing our collective capacity to welcome and entertain visitors. Its investment in tourism is helping municipalities and individual businesses build compelling destinations that will attract visitors and residents alike. The economic impact from the Tourism Relief Fund will be felt for years.”

-Chuck Thibeault, Executive Director, Central Counties Tourism

“This investment was a win-win-win for the Township of Uxbridge. The program enables our BIA to develop programming that supports local merchants and businesses, it has supported our Downtown Revitalization efforts by making our downtown more people friendly, and it has enabled us to expand the services and amenities we offer to visitors to our community. We are excited to build on the momentum created through this program to sustain our local economy, and grow our reputation as a tourist destination.

-Dave Barton, Mayor, Township of Uxbridge

Quick facts

• The Uxbridge BIA provides supportive economic growth strategies for its membership of 250 unique shops and services through streetscaping, marketing campaigns and improving community ambiance.
• Central Counties Tourism (CCT) was established as a regional tourism organization in 2010 under a framework developed by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Its mandate is to identify sustainable best product and practices that will build a stronger and more competitive tourism industry within the York, Durham, and Headwaters regions. CCT is funded by the Ontario Government and managed as a not-for-profit organization by a voluntary tourism industry board. CCT’s mission is to increase tourism in the region by promoting and developing unique and competitive tourism products that attract high yield visitors from outside the Central Counties region.
• 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. FedDev Ontario is delivering nearly $120 million of the Tourism Relief Fund across southern Ontario.
• The Government of Canada’s $8.65 million investment in Central Counties is part of an over $78-million investment, which includes an almost $10-million top-up to the original $68.5-million contribution.

Associated Links

• uxbridge.ca/bia
• centralcounties.ca
• FedDev Ontario
• Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)

Contacts

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

Colleen Baskin
Communications Officer
Township of Uxbridge
cbaskin@uxbridge.ca

Chuck Thibeault
Executive Director, Central Counties Tourism
cthibeault@centralcounties.ca
905.940.9999 x 1

About FedDev Ontario

For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

About Township of Uxbridge Business Improvement Association

The Uxbridge BIA, managed by a volunteer board recruited from eligible members, is responsible for local beautification projects, promotions, and events that will attract residents and tourists alike to shop, dine, and discover the town of Uxbridge. uxbridge.ca/bia

About Central Counties Tourism

Central Counties Tourism (CCT) was established as a regional tourism organization in 2010 under a framework developed by the Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Its mandate is to identify sustainable best product and practices that will build a stronger and more competitive tourism industry within the York, Durham, and Headwaters regions. CCT is funded by the Ontario Government and managed as a not-for-profit organization by a voluntary tourism industry board. CCT’s mission is to increase tourism in the region by promoting and developing unique and competitive tourism products that attract high yield visitors from outside the Central Counties region. centralcounties.ca