Provincial officials assembled at Shire Hall this month to announce $120,000 for four County development projects, over half of the $220,000 earmarked in the province’s new Rural Ontario Development fund for projects across the region.

The Chamber of Commerce and the municipality were awarded $50,000 each; the Chamber for its four-season economy initiatives and the municipality for a Community Improvement Plan to direct financial support for business development.

In formal remarks, Chamber CEO Duarte Da Silva noted jobs in PEC’s hospitality sector grew 52 percent between 2019 and 2024. The County has 3,729 businesses — a total that is up by a third in just 5 years.

“In survey after survey,” he noted, “businesses tell us the same thing: seasonality is the hardest part of doing business here.”

The funding will allow for “a full strategic assessment of the visitor economy,” including asset mapping, assembling data, and “genuine consultation, including in-person listening sessions, focus groups, and surveys among Chamber members, business leaders, associations, and our arts community.”

With the Chamber’s leadership, five organizations are working together for the first time in what Mr. Da Silva called “the four season economy coalition:” the Chamber, the municipality, County Arts, Visit the County and the Picton BIA.

The ROD is a $20 million fund to strengthen rural economies, support workers, and encourage business development.

Two other grants of $10k each went to two Cherry Valley businesses: the County Cooperage to install an accessible washroom, and to Lakecroft, an event and accommodation venue, to improve pathways and parking areas.

In Depth: A Community Improvement Plan

A CIP is a framework that allows municipalities to give money and other incentives, such as tax bridging, directly to businesses whose projects — whether an expansion, property improvement, or better signage — promise to enhance the life and vibrancy of the community, says Karen Palmer, the County’s economic development officer.

Right now, consultations, which run through March, are identifying the kinds of projects that will qualify. 

“Given that PEC has two designated Heritage Districts, one in Wellington and one in Picton, we might target funding to help businesses meet heritage requirements when planning alterations,” she notes.

Money could be made available, most likely through a matching funds program, for signage, business expansions, and the professional services required for a site plan or drawings. “We’d also like to support businesses other than retail, and those off the Main Street, in things like succession planning and ensuring business longevity.”

Ms. Palmer recounts how a former economic development officer, Dan Taylor, saw a decline in industry and manufacturing and jumpstarted PEC’s creative economy. He designed a CIP to focus on small businesses, entrepreneurs, and growing the hospitality sector.

He also created a $300k reserve fund. “Part of our work now is figuring out both how to give that money out and how to replenish it.”

One source might be some of the funds generated via the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).

“A CIP rewards projects that contribute to a flourishing community. That means increasing year-round employment opportunities, for example, which in turn contributes to a more stable economy with less seasonal fluctuation.”

She will recommend a granting pool able to support larger and more ambitious business expansion projects as well as smaller things, like beautiful, welcoming Main Street signage.

“It rewards making a larger investment than a business would ordinarily make, or could make on its own. It makes things better than they would be otherwise.”

“That’s why heritage projects will most likely be a big part of our CIP.”

Other priorities include helping businesses supply worker housing, and simplifying pathways to help agribusinesses, such as wineries, cideries, and farms, create what are called “on farm diversified uses,” or OFDs. “That is creating a revenue stream that goes beyond day-to-day operations at the farm, like a corn maze, sunflower field, farm stand, bed and breakfast, or a cafe.” 

A smooth and coordinated grants process is a priority. “We don’t want grants that represent just too little money for the time and energy it takes to apply for them.”