With Kenora’s busy summer tourism season winding down, the Kenora Hospitality Alliance (KHA) hopes to support more events that give visitors a reason to come to the city in the fall and winter.
Applications for its next round of funding are due Sept. 30, with grants available for events and projects taking place between Oct. 1 and March 31 — meaning the clock is ticking and it’s time to get your application in if you haven’t already.
KHA executive director Edward Franko told the Miner and News the alliance wants more local organizers to know the funding is available.
“We’re not well known enough, and we have money to give,” he said.
The alliance represents Kenora’s accommodation sector and works with its 14 tourism partners to attract visitors year-round. Franko said hotel occupancy is strong during the summer but drops as the weather gets colder.
“We’re really trying to push that aspect, get more people out in the winter,” he said.
Franko said the KHA is open to supporting a wide range of projects, as long as they help attract visitors to Kenora. The goal, he said, is to put “heads in beds.”
The grants are funded through the municipal accommodation tax (MAT) collected by local hotels and motels. The money is then forwarded to the City of Kenora, which allocates a portion to the KHA for tourism-related activities.
Grants generally max out at $10,000, although Franko said applicants are encouraged to ask for what they need. Requests are assessed based on the project and available funding. This spring, KHA distributed about $50,000 in grants.
The alliance has supported a range of events and community projects, including Kenora Bass International, the Kenora Rowing Club Regatta, Lakeside Live and the accessible playground on Coney Island. It has also provided funding over several years for programs and upgrades at Mount Evergreen. This year, its support for the rowing club included communication radios for the regatta, which Franko said worked out well.
Another event it supported was the inaugural Summer’s Peak, where KHA was the presenting sponsor. The event included a children’s day and an evening concert featuring four bands.
Looking ahead, Franko would like to see more events during the shoulder seasons and winter, whether that means outdoor activities, festivals, concerts or other indoor events.
Hockey tournaments, for example, can bring teams and families to Kenora. A concert featuring an act people might not otherwise see in the region could also give them a reason to make the trip.
“The more we can get things going in the winter, the better,” Franko said.
He hopes the grant program will encourage people to make use of what Kenora already has.
“One of my goals is to get the word out that there is some seed money available to get things going and start some creative idea thinking and see what you can do to bring people here,” he said.
The alliance also has a March 31 deadline for events scheduled between April 1 and Sept. 30. More information about the grant program and the application form is available at stayinkenora.com.
