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HomeNewsProvince Invests $47,390 To Support The Peterborough & The Kawarthas Economic Development

Province Invests $47,390 To Support The Peterborough & The Kawarthas Economic Development

KAWARTHA LAKES- The Ontario government is investing $47,390 to support the Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED). PKED’s project is one of 16 projects approved through the Rural Economic Development (RED) program providing nearly $800,000 in funding to support economic recovery in rural communities across Ontario.

The new funding will support the creation and modernization of tools to help connect local Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough food service providers and farmers with customers through a digital platform and increase local food production, processing and demand.

“This funding will support our rural economies by helping local agri-food businesses adapt to challenges COVID-19 has presented and encourage community members to buy locally sourced products safely,” said Laurie Scott, MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock.

This intake was directed at upper-tier municipalities and not-for-profit regional organizations with a mandate focused on regional economic development. Qualifying projects would be eligible for up to 70 per cent of total costs to a maximum of $75,000 in provincial funding.

“For years, Kawartha Choice FarmFresh has played a key role in supporting local food producers and products grown or produced in Kawartha Lakes and Peterborough. Through the early days of the pandemic the increased demand for locally grown foods and farm products uncovered the need for a more robust, modern platform to help consumers understand ways to access locally grown foods and farm products,” said Kelly Maloney, Agriculture Development Officer, Kawartha Lakes Economic Development. “Thanks to the funding provided by the government of Ontario, we are better able to help farmers utilize additional tools and programs to effectively grow their businesses through value-added food processing and enhanced marketing to meet consumer demand.”

The RED program supports projects with tangible benefits to rural and indigenous communities that help to attract business, investment, and create jobs, while also providing greater value for taxpayer dollars.

“Kawartha Lakes is home to over 300,000 acres of farmland and agriculture is vital to both our economy and community,” commented Mayor Letham, Kawartha Lakes. “We’re fortunate to have a variety of local farmers, restaurants, retailers and foodservice providers and we can’t lose sight of the important role they play as our community grows. I’m grateful the province shares our vision and is continuing to support our homegrown food through this funding.”

 

 

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Pamela Vanmeer
Pamela Vanmeerhttps://www.kawartha411.ca/
Pamela VanMeer is a two time winner of the prestigious Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Award. Her investigative reports on abuse in Long Term Care Homes garnered international attention for the issue and won the Ron Laidlaw Award. She is a former reporter and anchor at CHEX News, now Global Peterborough and helped launch the New CHEX Daily, a daily half hour talk show. While at CHCH News in Hamilton she covered some of the biggest news stories of the day.

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