JORDAN – Erie-Lincoln MPP Tim Hudak congratulated the Twenty Valley Tourism Association (TVTA) and the Jordan Village Merchants' Association (JVMA) upon receiving a grant today through the province’s OSTAR Rural Economic Development (RED) program.

The tourism associations received $164,500 from the RED program. The TVTA and JVMA promised to match the government investment and use the money for various marketing initiatives and events to encourage tourism to Niagara’s wine country.

Hudak said it’s because of organizations like the TVTA and JVMA that the former PC Government created the RED program, adding the PCs recognized the hard work of the TVTA with a grant during their time in office. The RED program was created to support job creation in small-town and rural Ontario and to fund marketing initiatives that support agriculture-based tourism.

“The TVTA took that grant money and exceeded the PC Government’s expectations with their innovative and enthusiastic work ethic,” Hudak said. “I am pleased to see the current Liberal Government has also recognized their hard work and that of the Jordan Village Merchants’ Association and awarded them with another grant.”

Hudak added today’s grant reflects that the TVTA effectively utilized the previous grant and are seen as good community partners.

The Twenty Valley Tourism Association links together a network of about 80 businesses located in Twenty Valley – the heart of Niagara’s wine region – and promotes all they and the region have to offer from golf and wine tours to boutique shopping, fine dining and bed and breakfasts. Likewise, the Jordan Village Merchants’ Association works to promote similar attractions unique to the region in Jordan Village.