The County of Haliburton is receiving $35,000 from the province to help implement a new investment attraction plan.
The funding, to be provided through the Rural Ontario Development Program, will be matched with $35,000 in funding from the County.
Officials said the program will work to proactively attract more diversified accommodation offerings to the County, highlight available properties for development, and develop intermunicipal investment readiness teams to support and streamline private sector investment.
According to officials, the plan also includes enhancing the County’s economic development website, creating a hotel feasibility study, and hosting various investment forums.
“Haliburton County continues to grow but with an aging population,” states a council report. “This strategy aims to target economic sectors that could succeed in Haliburton to attract new investment to support the growing population.”
The report also states that tourism growth is outpacing accommodation supply, and that visitors, event organizers, and tour operators struggle to find reliable, year-round places to stay.
“We have demand, but not enough supply,” continues the report. “That gap is a prime opportunity for investors. Staff have identified the tactics of initial focus for the strategy, recognizing that this will be a living document that will be updated as the program evolves.”
More details can be found at haliburtoncounty.ca.
