GUELPH – On Dec. 16, Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner met the Innovation Guelph team to hear more about the $55,900 Resilient Communities Fund grant received from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) that was used to equip meeting rooms with hybrid technology and enhance cleaning to reopen the event and co-working spaces after the pandemic.
This project will be completed by March 2023 and will give entrepreneurs safe and improved access to programs, events and space at Innovation Guelph.
“I want to congratulate Innovation Guelph for receiving a Resilient Communities Fund Grant,” said Schreiner.
“I have had the privilege of working alongside Innovation Guelph on many occasions and am always impressed with the extent to which they go above and beyond to support people and business in our community.
“This grant will allow them to continue serving the people of Guelph through their many initiatives. Thanks to Innovation Guelph for the continued hard work.”
In addition to the installation of speakers, Innovation Guelph had large-screen TVs and sound barriers installed in meeting spaces.
To complement the new installations and make the space truly hybrid, multiple Owl Labs 360-degree cameras equipped with noise cancelling microphones were purchased to allow remote participants to feel fully engaged during program delivery.
Funds were also used to provide optimized ongoing cleaning and sanitization protocols and personal protective equipment needed to protect in-person participants and staff.
Thanks to the $55,900 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, participants and entrepreneurs will be able to safely access programming both remotely and in-person, officials state.
“The Ontario Trillium Foundation grant means more people can join us remotely and take part in events that used to be in person only,” said Innovation Guelph CEO Alison Crumblehulme.
“We would not have been able to manage a hybrid model and do it safely with our previous tools and technology.”
Innovation Guelph provides mentorship and business support services that help innovative enterprises across Canada start, grow and thrive. To inquire about using the co-working space or their services, please visit the website at: www.innovationguelph.ca.
Last year, OTF invested nearly $209M into 2,042 community projects and partnerships, included funding for the Government of Ontario’s Community Building Fund.
Visit otf.ca to learn more.
