Tourism Development Investment [TDI]. First Impressions Program. Guidelines and Application Form. 2015. Photo: Lunenburg
2015
Photo: Lunenburg Waterfront
Tourism Development Investment [TDI] First Impressions Program Guidelines and Application Form
Guidelines
2015 TDI: First Impressions Program
“The number one activity of visitors in the world is shopping, dining and entertainment in a pedestrian-friendly, intimate setting—your downtowns. This is where 80% of all non-lodging tourism spending takes place. That’s right: 80%.” Roger Brooks, Destination Development International
Downtowns are important for tourism. The First Impressions Program is designed to support the development of attractive, distinctive, and visitor-friendly downtowns. Do visitors spend time in your downtown? Features and fixtures on downtown streets can make a major contribution to the character of a community.
Objective
Project Guidelines
Create positive impressions and meet needs where visitors connect with downtowns or main streets of communities.
This is a competitive funding process. Projects must demonstrate the ability to improve the visitor’s first impression of a downtown/main street destination.
Project Expenditures & Application Deadline Applications are due April 15, 2015 and are subject to availability of funding. Projects must be completed by March 31, 2016.
If the municipality has agreed to undertake ongoing maintenance associated with the project, a resolution in council is required. If the ongoing maintenance will be undertaken by the project applicant or another partner, verification must include a maintenance schedule, budget and confirmation of financial resources to cover the maintenance.
Priority will be given to projects demonstrating: • fit with an existing plan (such as community master plan, community identity or consumer focused brand) • compliance with municipal by-laws and municipal support (letter required) • significant tourism visitation to the region • critical mass of businesses and services including those with a tourism focus • competitive strength as a destination (Halifax, Peggy’s Cove, Lunenburg, Cabot Trail, Bay of Fundy) or gateway • a minimum of 80% business occupancy rate in the downtown core • use of third-party professional designers, fabricators, installers or other service providers • verification of ongoing maintenance of the project once complete
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Guidelines TDI: First Impressions Program Eligibility
Level of Investment
Applicants must be a municipality or a registered non-governmental or not-for-profit organization such as chambers of commerce or local business area improvement groups. Organizations must be in good standing with the provincial Registry of Joint Stock Companies and have no outstanding obligations with the Nova Scotia Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism or Nova Scotia Tourism Agency (NSTA). Organizations must be in operation for at least one year and demonstrate financial stability.
The First Impressions Program will consider 50% of eligible costs with the balance coming from the applicant and other potential sources. Total government (federal and provincial) investment should not exceed 70% of the total project cost.
In order to reapply, previously funded applicants must have met the former program’s conditions (completed final report and financials submitted).
Eligible Project Costs
Applicants are usually expected to secure at least 30% of total project costs. The 30% applicant contribution can be comprised of a minimum 10% cash and a maximum 20% in-kind contributions. Applicant cash contributions can include municipal funding, local fund-raising initiatives, and other community organizations. In-kind contributions will be considered only to offset measurable, incremental costs that are necessary to make the project possible. Please specify what project costs are included in the in-kind contributions.
Eligible project costs must be incurred between date of application and March 31, 2016. Where possible and applicable, preference is given to sustainable designs and materials.
Project Costs Eligible: • planning such as community identity,
branding, or landscape
• tourism infrastructure* • beautification fixtures such as baskets,
benches, planters, bike racks, banners, waste receptacles
• interpretation directed to a
tourism audience
Ineligible: • land acquisition • purchase of equipment for project
construction
• operating costs • marketing plans and initiatives • ongoing maintenance costs • administration
• public art such as murals or sculptures
• annual greenery and flowers
• perennial trees and shrubs
• staffing
• contracted labour (non-staff) • professional services
*Tourism infrastructure costs could include: gateway signage and features, wayfinding for traffic (vehicles, cyclists) and pedestrians (in and around downtown), kiosks, public washrooms, enhancements to public parking areas (landscape and beautification, not paving), creation of or enhancements to public gathering spaces on or adjacent to main street/downtown.
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Guidelines TDI: First Impressions Program Application Process
Program Conditions
1 Determine if the project aligns with priorities of NSTA and existing provincial, regional or community plans.
The Nova Scotia Tourism Agency’s contribution must be recognized in any project promotion or communication.
2 Speak to a Tourism Development Officer (902-798-6777) about your project.
Successful applicants will receive an advance of up to 50% of their funding assistance upon request and receipt of the signed Letter of Offer agreement.
3 Obtain municipal support for the project. 4 Complete and sign the attached application cover form. 5 Prepare an application presenting required information under the four sections provided. 6 Submit application by email by April 15, 2015. Applications will be reviewed and evaluated by tourism development staff. The review and evaluation of applications is a competitive process and will take approximately 4-8 weeks. Although the project may be eligible, it is not guaranteed funding from the program. If the application is successful, the full amount requested may not be funded. Submissions must include a completed and signed First Impressions Program application form with an attached application that answers the questions provided. Please submit application by e-mail to tourismdevelopment@ novascotia.ca. You will receive a confirmation e-mail that you should retain for your files. If you do not receive a confirmation e-mail, please contact the NSTA to confirm receipt of application. Successful applicants will receive a formal Letter of Offer with agreements outlining the terms and conditions relevant to the partnership. Advice on the outcome of your application is available after a formal decision has been made and communicated to you in writing.
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A listing of successful project applicants may be made public after the process is completed.
Final Report The balance of funding will be provided upon receipt of the final report, expected by March 11, 2016, and receipt of supporting financial documentation regarding eligible expenses, to our satisfaction, prior to March 31, 2016. The NSTA has the right to require the return of any unspent funds or any funds that have been spent on items that were not part of the Agreement.
Contact Information For more information, please contact: Nova Scotia Tourism Agency Department of Economic and Rural Development and Tourism 8 Water Street, PO Box 667 Windsor, NS B0N 2T0 Email:
[email protected] Tel: 902-798-6777
Application
2015 TDI: First Impressions Program The deadline for application is April 15, 2015. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Projects must be completed by March 31, 2016.
1. Applicant Information Project Name: Organization (as listed in Registry of Joint Stock Companies): Organization Mailing Address: Town:
Postal Code:
Website: Contact Person: Preferred Mailing Address (if different from above): Town:
Postal Code:
Tel (daytime):
Email:
Registry of Joint Stock Companies number: In good standing with the NSTA and Province of NS re: previous funding (if applicable):
n yes n no
Vendor Number (if applicable):
Set up for E-Vendor Payment?
n yes n no
2. Authorizations
n I hereby certify that the information provided in this application is true, correct, and complete
in every respect.
The personal information provided on this form and any attachments will be used for the purposes of administering the First Impressions Program. It is collected under the authority of Section 26(a) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and is protected by the privacy provisions of the act. Successful applicants are to be advised that their organization name, project or event name (as noted on the application form), and approved funding amount may be disclosed in accordance with the departmental Routine Access Policy. Signature of Authorized Official: Date:
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Application TDI: First Impressions Program In a separate document, prepare an application presenting required information in four sections for evaluation: 1. Applicant Profile 2. Project Description
20%
3. Tourism and Business Profile
40%
4. Budget, Support and Sustainability
40%
TOTAL
100%
1. Applicant Profile Describe your organization, including: a. length of time in business/operation b. mandate c. membership profile d. revenue sources e. recently approved financial statement (not required for municipalities) f. previous projects that you have undertaken.
2. Project Description (20%)
c. Of the total number, how many are tourism focused? (ie. restaurants and certain types of retail, such as galleries are tourism focused, whereas hardware stores and medical offices are not. Preference is given to clusters of ‘unique to Nova Scotia’ businesses) d. How many vacant storefronts are within the project boundary? e. How does the project complement the tourism offering of the community/ destination and align with the priorities of the NSTA?
4. Budget, Support and Sustainability (40%) a. Provide specific budget details, including: • estimated costs of each project activity • project funding sources, including cash and in-kind, and how they are allocated to project costs. • identify confirmed and pending sources.
Briefly describe your project and answer the following questions:
b. Who is responsible for ongoing maintenance of the project?
a. Is this project the result of a plan? If so, provide a copy of all related plans that are not currently on file at the NSTA.
c. What resources (such as funds and staff) are available for ongoing maintenance? (An order in council is required to indicate municipal council responsibility for maintenance. For other organizations, a maintenance schedule, budget and source of the budget are required.)
b. What are all the proposed activities and the timeline for their completion? c. What is the project boundary, including specific street names or other sites that define the outer boundary of the project area? d. Is additional or phased work planned for project completion? e. Provide ‘before’ pictures of the project area.
3. Tourism and Business Profile (40%) Describe how the project fits with NSTA priorities and A Tourism Strategy for Nova Scotia: a. What is the current level of visitation to the community (using provincial and other specific research sources)?
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b. What businesses, services and activities (both amount and type) are currently located within the project boundary and what are the general hours of operation?
d. If the applicant is not a municipality, a letter of support from the municipality is required to indicate that the municipality is aware of the project and it is compliant with municipal by-laws. Letters from any business, tourism organizations or individual business/ organizations within the project boundary would be beneficial. e. Describe how the project demonstrates: • economic sustainability • environmental sustainability • social sustainability
For information on A Tourism Strategy for Nova Scotia and the province’s key markets please visit the Nova Scotia Tourism Agency’s website: www.novascotiatourismagency.ca
Application TDI: First Impressions Program Applicant Checklist
Discussed project with tourism n
development staff.
Submitted the following documents: n A signed copy of this application n form
A complete application providing n
required information in all four sections
A copy of the plan from which this n
project has arisen, if required
Related research n A municipal order in council or n
letter of support, as appropriate
Letters of endorsement from n
tourism associations or businesses within the boundary
‘Before’ pictures n Identify all funding resources n
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and requests
