Supporting Ontario’s Agricultural and Horticultural Societies
New funding will help offset lost revenue from cancelled fall fairs and exhibits
From fall fairs and exhibits to agriculture education, our agricultural and horticultural societies play a vital role in communities across rural Ontario.
That’s why our PC government is investing $5 million in the fall budget to help offset losses due to the cancellation of fall fairs, exhibits and other revenue generating activities due to COVID-19. This one-time initiative features two funding streams:
- $1.8 million Base Support Funding
- Eligible agricultural societies will receive $7,000 while eligible horticultural societies will receive $1,140 in funding to support their continued delivery of agricultural and horticultural education across Ontario.
- $3.2 million Hardship Funding
- This will help eligible agricultural societies off-set operating losses, liabilities, and fixed overhead costs.
Funding is expected to be completed before March 31, 2021.
These societies have been unable to hold events like fall fairs and exhibits over the past 10 months due to health and safety concerns around COVID-19. This funding will help support these societies during a difficult period so they can operate future fall fairs and exhibits and participate in our future economic recovery.
Supporting our rich agricultural and horticultural traditions is important to maintaining the economic fabric of our rural communities and their contributions to our economic recovery.