Project Title:

Sayward Waterfront Trail Business Case

Project Organization:

Village of Sayward

Project Investment:

  • Island Coastal Economic Trust: $10,000
  • Provincial Government Grant: $10,000
  • Total Budget: $20,000

With recent declines in traditional industries such as fishing and forestry, the Village of Sayward is looking to its history as a working waterfront community as an avenue for diversification. The concept of a ‘Working Waterfront Destination Trail’ was identified in a 2013 economic development strategy as a high-return project to transform the waterfront into an experiential tourism destination.

Carrying momentum from their economic development planning and subsequent implementation, Quick Start funding enabled Sayward to build a comprehensive business case for the Working Waterfront Trail in 2016. The document included concept designs, costing, implementation strategy and other elements required to access capital funding for the next stage of development.

The business case was completed in 2017 and was the catalyst to secure construction funding for the overall project. Completed in 2019, the Working Waterfront Destination Trail is a cornerstone project in the development of a new experiential tourism destination that is anticipated to increase opportunities surrounding tourism, expand employment opportunities, and support and grow the local retail and food services market.