The Teeny Tiny Summit that took place on August 12, 2020, delved into how small rural communities can pivot to address these challenges through economic development initiatives. Speakers Sarah Franklin, Economic Development and Communications Officer of Perth County, Kari Partridge, Economic Development Coordinator of Selwyn Township, and Melissa Marquardt, Tourism Development Officer for the Ottawa Valley Tourist Association shared insight on the initiatives that their communities have introduced to support the reopening of local businesses. To read the recap of the webinar please visit - https://onregionalecdev.com/2020/08/18/teeny-tiny-summit-goes-virtual/

1. Moving Quickly Into Action

2. Come up with a plan… and quickly
• Development of Tourism Revival Plan
• Responding to the Crisis
• Communications and support to stakeholders
• Reviving the Industry
• Communications and support to stakeholders
• Development of Renfrew County Task Force
• Launch of Destination Development Assessment
• Development of Recovery Marketing Plan
• Recovering the Market
• Communications and support to stakeholders
• Launch of recovery campaigns (phased approach)
• Completion of Destination Development Assessment and Strategic Plan

3. Responding to the Crisis
• Mobilization with Partners
• Regional tourism partners
• Regional Tourism Organization – Ontario’s Highlands Tourism Organization (OHTO)
• Municipal destination marketing organizations within Ontario’s Highlands – Lanark, Hastings,
Haliburton, Frontenac, Lennox & Addington Counties
• Provincial & federal tourism partners
• Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism & Culture Industries (MHSTCI)
• Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO)
• Destination Canada
• Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC)

4. Responding to the Crisis
• Development a communications strategy to streamline information to stakeholders
• Participated in zoom meetings, teletown halls, conference calls, etc.
• Convened a conference call with MPP John Yakabuski (Minister of Natural Resources &
Forestry) & MPP Lisa MacLeod (Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism & Culture Industries)
for local stakeholders
• Worked with TIAO, OHTO & County of Renfrew Economic Development to deploy surveys
and collect data from local stakeholders
• Pushed for local participation in MHSTC’s Advisory Panels – Rural and Outdoor Tourism

5. Reviving the Industry
• Continued to streamline communications and support to stakeholders
• Became experts at interpretting new regulations and re-opening guidelines
• Became besties with our local Health Unit
• Identified and recommended tourism representatives for Renfrew County
Economic Development Task Foce
• Launched destination development assessment and strategic planning exercise to
include 18 month recovery plan
• Development of recovery marketing plan

6. Recovering the Market
• Continue to streamline communications and support to stakeholders
• Development and launch of phased approach marketing campaigns:
• Hyper local – launched mid-July
• Regional/Provincial – launches September
• Inter-provincial/International – to be determined based on border re-opening, etc
• Completion of Destination Development Assessment and Strategic Plan

7. Thank You!
Melissa Marquardt
Tourism Development Officer
mmarquardt@countyofrenfrew.on.ca
613.723.4364, x459