Tweed, ON July 6, 2010 - MP for Hastings Prince Edward, Daryl Kramp was joined by Community Futures Directors, David Cronheilm and Aubrey Johnson when he announced $20,000 in Eastern Ontario Development Program funding from two Community Futures organizations to help support Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance's new $37,000 Marketing Strategy.

$10,000 is funded through Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin and another $10,000 will be supported by Frontenac Community Futures with financial assistance form the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to invest in local projects through the Community Futures Development Corporations”, said MP Kramp. “There is no question that the tourist industry is the largest single employer in Hastings County. The decision to fund this project rests with the volunteer directors of the CFDCs and they chose wisely to invest where the funds can create the greatest positive impact.”

The New Marketing Strategy will support a new recreational trail map, production of a video to showcase trails at trade shows and on You tube on the EOTA web site, design vibrant ads and placing in key magazines resulting in increased visitors attracted to the area,  Brochure racks created  and put in key tourist locations throughout the area that will carry maps and other tourist information, Trail experience Package that exist with accommodations on our web site will be upgraded to encourage more overnight stays. Experience Packages created for new accommodations that will be promoted on the EOTA web site to increase tourism in the area.

Cindy Cassidy, General Manager of EOTA remarked "We are grateful to have this kind of financial assistance from the CFDC’s. Any means of attracting visitors to the area is a positive step forward in helping our businesses. We look forward to dealing with the CFDCs again on similar tourism projects".

EOTA is a not-for-profit corporation established in 1997 with the assistance of many municipalities, user groups and tourist associations. EOTA’s mandate is to develop, manage, maintain and market a comprehensive network of shared use recreational trails for the economic, tourism and job creation they bring.

“The trails are definitely a valuable asset in attracting tourists to the area”, said Rob Price, Chair of the CFDC of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin. “We believe its money invested wisely, inviting people to share the adventure and experience the natural heritage and beauty of the trails in our communities.”

The Government of Canada has funded the Community Futures Development Corporation of North & Central Hastings and South Algonquin to implement six components of the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP): Access to Capital, Skills Development, Youth Retention, Local Initiatives, Business Planning, and Innovation Communication Technology Grant.

Community Futures Development Corporations (CFDCs) support community economic development by assisting Ontario’s rural and northern communities to strengthen and diversify their economies. With 37 corporations in rural southern Ontario and 24 in Northern Ontario, CFDCs are well positioned to offer local solutions to local needs.