Winners of the first ever "Spark" Mentorship & Grants Program have been announced.
The top five finalists in the first ever Ontario Tourism Innovation Lab presented pitches of their new tourism ideas at Caesars Windsor.
Each competed to receive a tourism industry mentorship, and a $3,000 grant to help take their idea to the next level of development or implementation.
The inaugural winners include, Amy Saba of Crafted on Riverfront, Jen Desjardins-Grondin from GL Heritage Brewing Company and Michael Difazio, Owner of Michael Difazio Reclaim Artistry
The program was launched in Windsor Essex in June 2018 in collaboration with Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, Ontario Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Sport, Southwest Ontario Tourism Corporation, Libro Credit Union, and over 25 community partners and supporters from across the region.
The goal of the "Spark" Program is to find, foster and support new tourism experiences, product ideas and collaborative partnerships.
This past summer, a community-wide marketing campaign encouraged residents, non-profits and small businesses to apply with their great new tourism ideas for Windsor Essex.