New tourism grant and mentor program in SD&G

In this provided photo, Cornwall Mayor Bernadette Clement and United Counties of SD&G Warden Frank Prevost hold sparklers on Thursday, Sept. 17, 2020 to signify the launch of the Spark Mentorships and Grants Program. The program is meant to get local tourism ideas off the ground. (United Counties of SD&G via Newswatch Group)

CORNWALL – It’s meant to “spark” some new tourism ideas in Cornwall and SD&G.

City and county officials announced the launch of the Spark Mentorships and Grants Program during a launch event in downtown Cornwall this morning (Thursday) across the street from the county administration building.

People who apply to the program and are accepted will be set up with a tourism mentor as well as a $3,000 grant to take their tourism idea to the next level.

With COVID-19, tourism and stay-cations are seen as the lifeblood for local businesses and to restart the local economy.

Cornwall and SD&G will be among 10 other regions in the province with a similar program.

The program, which is being lead by Cornwall Tourism, Cornwall Tourism Development Fund the United Counties of SD&G and the Ontario Tourism Innovation Lab, will be taking applications between now and the end of October.