Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
November 4, 2009
Deer Lake to Commence Development Plan
A $118,000 investment from the
Provincial Government is enabling the Town of Deer Lake
to begin its multi-phase tourism and recreation plan.
The long-term development plan capitalizes on the
region�s natural assets to improve recreational
opportunities in an effort to attract outdoor
enthusiasts to the area.
"The growing appetite for visiting our
province creates an opportunity for all communities,"
said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "The Town of
Deer Lake has done a good job in recognizing this
opportunity and need for tourism-related infrastructure
that will benefit its residents and attract more
visitors. The Provincial Government supports the town�s
plan because it outlines how new tourism and recreation
venues will create regional, community-based, and
tourism-oriented business opportunities."
Scheduled to begin in spring 2010, the
initial phase will include trail development and
beautification along the banks of the Upper Humber River
and Humber River Golf Club, complemented by the
nature-viewing interpretative materials for trail use
and signage. The development is highly-anticipated by
the area�s organizations seeking to have their
facilities linked by the trail, improving their ability
to attract tourists.
"Our local attractions and easy access
to the picturesque Humber Valley make Deer Lake the
ideal vacation staging point," said Maxine Hayden,
Manager, Town of Deer Lake. "The Town of Deer Lake and
the Deer Lake Tourism Development Corporation are very
pleased with how the first phase of our tourism and
recreation plan is coming together. I am confident our
local businesses and tourism operators will benefit from
this project as it will become an effective tool for
attracting potential consumers to the area."
The multi-phase plan has its roots in
an independent consultant�s report completed in 2007 -
the Deer Lake Tourism and Recreation Opportunities
Assessment Report, outlining Deer Lake�s potential
for becoming a four-season tourism destination. The town
is energized and looking forward to the plan�s proposed
activities scheduled up to 2012.
"Deer Lake is an area with its own
natural beauty and is a gateway to the
internationally-acclaimed Gros Morne National Park and
L�Anse aux Meadows," said Darryl Kelly, MHA,
Humber Valley. "This plan is an
important first step to attract users and travellers to
a beautiful area in the province. It will provide an
excellent base for the community to leverage its
strength and attract economic opportunities."
The project will be co-managed by the
Town of Deer Lake and the Deer Lake Tourism Development
Corporation (DLTDC). Operating on behalf of the Town of
Deer Lake, the DLTDC is a not-for-profit corporation
created in 2004 to enhance tourism and recreational
opportunities in the Deer Lake area. The corporation�s
mission is to contribute to the attractiveness of Deer
Lake, and surrounding Humber Valley communities, as a
high-quality place to live, visit, invest and establish
new businesses through the development of a regional,
community-supported tourism and recreation
infrastructure program.
This initiative was funded through the
Regional/Sectoral Diversification Fund (RSDF), which
through Budget 2009: Building on Our Strong
Foundation was increased to an $8 million fund.
Administered by the Department of Innovation, Trade and
Rural Development, the RSDF provides non-repayable
contributions to economic development agencies for
initiatives that address regional and sectoral
development and diversification.
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