Port Rowan groups receive $80,000 from Amplify Norfolk

The Long Point area will be the big winner for Amplify Norfolk grants next year.

Norfolk County councillors on Dec. 10 voted to give Long Point Country Chamber of Commerce $40,000 to continue Sandpines Campfire Concert Series on June 28.

And Long Point Country Bayfest will get $40,000 to create an annual community concert in celebration of Bayfest.

Port Dover Board of Trade in collaboration with Norfolk County Championship Wrestling received the $20,000 grant to hold two live professional wrestling performances, a family friendly matinee and an evening show for teens and adults.

Next year will be Amplify Norfolk’s second—and final—year offering matching grants to not-for-profit organizations to produce new live entertainment events any time of the year, except the prime months of July and August.

The idea has been to cut risk for groups seeking to create permanent events that will boost tourism in Norfolk.

Amplify Norfolk has had a roller coaster ride over the years. In 2021, in what was then known as Project Microphone, council set aside $375,000 for grants in 2021, 2022 and 2023. No grants were awarded in the first two years because of COVID.

In 2023, under the new name of Project Amplify, the county granted $50,000 to the Norfolk Agricultural Society to start a Fairgrounds Festival in June and $30,000 to Waterford’s Old Town Hall and Waterford Lions to help with a Pumpkinfest concert in October.

In June 2024 councillors voted to discontinue the program. In July they had second thoughts and, by a 5–4 vote, authorized a final year of grants for 2025.

Seven groups applied. At their meeting, councillors disqualified four of them for not meeting criteria.

Port Rowan Coun. Tom Masschaele defended the two top grants going to groups in the same corner of Norfolk. He said discussion shouldn’t be ward versus ward. Either grants are worthwhile or they’re not.

Delhi Coun. Mike Columbus was glad to see an end to Amplify Norfolk grants. “I hope it’s buried,” Coun. Columbus said.

Ironically, last Tuesday’s committee meeting opened with celebration of Norfolk winning national marketing and provincial tourism awards. One award from the Economic Developers Association of Canada honoured Amplify Norfolk.

Originally printed in The Good News, January 2025.