CEDC Tourism Development Fund (TDF)

The Community Economic Development Commission Tourism Development Fund (CEDC Tourism Development Fund, formerly known as the  CEDC MAT Fund) is supported by tax revenues collected quarterly by the City of Thunder Bay through the administration of the Municipal Accommodation Tax (MAT).

The MAT is levied on short-term stays 30 days or less at hotel, motel and other accommodation properties in the City of Thunder Bay, at a rate of 4%. The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) administers 50% of this tax revenue to support continued tourism growth and development by providing funding through two funding streams.

Funding Streams

1. The CEDC Tourism Event Fund provides financial support to tourism events that demonstrate a capacity to attract out of town visitors and generate overnight stays at accommodation properties collecting the Municipal Accommodation Tax in Thunder Bay. A tourism event may include sport championships and tournaments, cultural shows, music concerts, festivals, meetings, conventions and other gatherings attracting out-of-town visitors for overnight stays.
   
   
2. The CEDC Tourism Product Development Fund provides support for projects that enhance existing, or create new business products, facilities and infrastructure that will result in a measurable improvement to the tourism experiences and opportunities to attract visitors to Thunder Bay. All projects must show broader community impact to the tourism and hospitality industry and should not solely increase the benefit to one organization.

The CEDC accepts applications year-round. In order to receive timely funding approval applicants are encouraged to apply 90-days prior to events and project start dates requiring less than $50,000, and 120 days prior to events requiring funding greater than $50,000.  

Current and Past Funding Recipients

2023  U21 Northern Ontario Provincial Championship    U14 Ontario Cup Provincial Championships    Nordiq Canada Ski Nationals 2023    Provincial Aspire Meet    Country on the Bay 2023    All Ontario U13 AAA Hockey Championship    Martial Arts and Health Expo 2023    Urban Fishery    Thunder Bay Climbing Guide    C2U Expo 2023    BrewHa Festival 2023    Wake the Giant 2023    2022  Magnus Theatre – The Next Stage The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) and Tourism Thunder Bay are pleased to provide $150,000 in funding support to Magnus Theatre – The Next Stage through the CEDC Tourism Development Fund.  Read More...  International Wushu Festival & National Championships The championship showcases martial arts routines with and without weapons apparatus as well as combative component testing. The event determined who will represent Canada at International events in 2023-2023.   UBC National Apprenticeship Competition CEDC Tourism Development Fund provides $30,750 in funding support from the Tourism Development Fund for the 2022 UBC National Apprenticeship Competition. Read More...  Silver Islet Harbour Association (SIHA) – Marina Enhancement CEDC Tourism Development Fund provides $30,000 to the Silver Islet Harbour Association Read More...  Country on the Bay The event is a four day country music festival which was held at Fort William Historical Park. The inaugural event took place in July 2022.   Splish Splash Water Park   CEDC Tourism Development Fund provides $30,000 to the Splish Splash Water Park Read More... StrEATery CEDC Tourism Development Fund provides $41,500 to The Streatery Read more...  Martial Arts and Health Expo CEDC Tourism Development Fund provides $4,000 in funding support for the 2022 Martial Arts and Health Expo. Read More... Northern Ontario Senior Curling Championship The event occurred April 2022 with the winner of the men’s and women’s Senior Curling Championship advanced to the national championship.    High Noon 24 Hr Trail Race and Relay CEDC Tourism Development FUND provides $5,000 to the high noon 24hr trail race & relay Read More...  Thunder City Speedway Grand Opening Invitational The invitational event occurred in June 2022 and marked the official grand opening of the Thunder City Speedway racing facility.   Northern Ontario Disc Golf Championship The event is a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) sanctioned A-tier tournament open to both professional and amateur players. Players visited three disc golf courses as part of the competition.   Mount Baldy Ski Area Enhancement The project includes installation of a Resort Management System (RMS) designed to use Radio Frequency ID passes to create better experiences for guests.   Lappe Ski Centre Enhancement The project includes accessibility improves to the chalet which will allow the facility to host larger events.  WTRCAT Waterfront Multi-Use Trail Extension Impact Study The study will provide key information for decision making in regards to a multi-use trail along the city’s waterfront.   Wake the Giant Music Festival CEDC Tourism Development Fund provides $50,000 in funding support to the Wake the Giant Music Festival 2022 Read More...  Live on the Waterfront The free performance series occurs over July and August at Marina Park showcasing Canadian performers locally and nationally.   Festival of India The event showcased traditional Indian and Bollywood dances, music, east Indian cuisine, exhibits, children’s activities, chariot parade, Indian bazaar, colour throwing and interactive dances in July 2022.  Vox Popular Media Arts Festival The event presents regional, Canadian, and International films as well as local music and visual artists.  Shuniah Forty Miner CEDC Tourism Development Fund provides $10,100 in funding support from the CEDC Tourism Development Fund to the Shuniah Forty Miner.   Read More... Digital Transformation Conference CEDC Tourism Development Fund provides $10,000 in funding support to the Digital Transformation Conference (DTC) Read More... ThunderCon The event is a two-day fan convention that celebrates pop culture and fosters a community of growth and inclusion.  132nd Annual CLE Family Fair The annual family fair is a five day event that is the largest fair in Northwestern Ontario, providing rides, carnival eats, games, and entertainment.  Baseball Friendship Series The event included a five game baseball series between US and Canada women’s national teams.  Central Canada Resource Expo The event is a tradeshow and conference that promotes mining, forestry, construction, and energy sectors within Northwestern Ontario.  FireCon The event provides critical regional training and programming for firefighters and emergency first responders for municipalities, unincorporated territories and First Nations in Northwestern Ontario.  Provincial Cross Country Running Championship The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) and Tourism Thunder Bay are please to provide $6,000 in funding support from the CEDC Tourism Development Fund to the OCAA Cross Country Running Championship 2022. Read More... Northern Ontario Tourism Summit The conference is a partnership between Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO) and Destination Northern Ontario (DNO) to bring together tourism businesses, organizations, suppliers, and levels of government to a single event to find solutions to challenges facing the industry. AETS Land Based Programming Professional Development Conference The conference strives to enhance the engagement and retention of Indigenous students at the elementary and secondary levels through Indigenous education, the Anishinaabe journey, program principles, and successful delivery components.  The Director's Circle: A Celebration of 50 Years of Magnus Theatre The event is a three day celebration of Magnus Theatre and its history within Thunder Bay and on the national stage.  EDCO Regional Event 2022 The conference is a full day professional development day for economic development professionals in the region to learn, grow their networks, and understand economic opportunities in Northern Ontario.   Pool 6 Best Use Study The study proposes to determine the highest and best use of the Pool 6 property at Prince Arthur’s Landing.  2023 LSSD Ontario Cup #2 The event is part of an Ontario series presented by Cross Country Ski Ontario (XCSO), sanctioned by Nordiq Canada (NC) for participants to race and rank in the national system.  Prosperity Northwest 2023 The Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) and Tourism Thunder Bay are please to provide $10,000 in funding support from the CEDC Tourism Development Fund to Prosperity Northwest 2023. Read More...    2021  Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club – Trowbridge Master Plan Development CEDC MAT Fund provides Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club with $250,000 in support of the Trowbridge Forest Master Plan Read More...  Great Lakes Waterfront Trail Expansion Feasibility Study The project includes development of a 761km trail between Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay to the Pigeon River border crossing.  Kam River Fighting Walleye CEDC MAT Fund provides the Kam River Fighting Walleye with $2,500 Read More...  Goods & Co. Market   CEDC MAT Fund provides Goods & Co. Market with $130,000 Read More...  Lakehead Transportation Museum Society The project aims to increase connectivity along the waterfront by increasing accessibility to the Alexander Henry ship in the form of a ramp.   Thunder Bay & Area Food Strategy CEDC MAT Fund provides the Thunder Bay & Area Food Strategy with over $40,000 to promote local food sector  Read More...  Check-In Canada The project includes establishing a visual database of accommodations and attractions in Thunder Bay.   Northern Ontario Disc Golf Championship The event is a Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) sanctioned A-tier tournament open to both professional and amateur players. Players visited three disc golf courses as part of the competition.  Wake the Giant Music Festival CEDC MAT Fund makes a $50,000 in principle contribution to the 2021 Wake the Giant Music Festival Read More...  Silver Islet General Store   CEDC MAT Fund provides the Silver Islet General Store with $48,000 Read More...   Science North – Visitor Experience Design Study   CEDC Tourism Development Fund provides $250,000 to Science North Read More...  Female Boarder Coalition The project is a year round indoor skateboarding park in the Cinema 5 location offering open skating, equipment rental, venue rental and programming.     2020 U16 Ontario Alpine Championships Friends of Chippewa 100th Anniversary Family Festival Ontario Winter Games 2024  2019 Scotties Tournament of Hearts Blacksheep Mountain Bike Club - Trowbridge Master Plan Ontario Cup Cross Country Ski Races Canadian Lighthouses of Lake Superior – Strategic Plan

The CEDC Tourism Product Development Fund from Generator on Vimeo.

The CEDC MAT Fund has been rebranded as the CEDC Tourism Development Fund.