The Tourism Development Fund is an Ontario government funding program that helps support projects that encourage tourism investment, tourism product development and industry capital building. This business funding grants program focuses on the following:
- Supports innovative product development for emerging sectors that have demonstrated market potential
- Enhances the quality of tourism services, businesses and practices through training
- Supports creation or revitalization of tourism attractions, sites and experiences
- Assists communities with investment readiness, investor relations, investment attraction and communication
- Assists with tourism planning and capacity support to ensure the tourism industry is well positioned to make future strategic decisions, address issues and opportunities
Government Grants for Small Business Eligibility
Eligible groups that can tap into these small business funding grants includes tourism associations, economic development corporations, tourism businesses, municipalities and organizations interested in performing tourism-related initiatives which support industry development and increased visitation.
Initiatives that is eligible for Ontario government funding includes:
- Tourism training
- Product and experience development
- Tourism planning
- Activities that support tourism investment or reinvestment
This funding for small business can go towards the following eligible costs:
- Consulting services
- Seminars, training costs
- Research, workshop, conference speakers or tourism related programs
- Regional or sector strategic tourism planning
- Organizational development
- Project management
- Websites
- Business plan support
- Feasibility assessments
Ineligible costs this Ontario government funding can go towards includes:
- Marketing expenses
- Capital costs
- Land acquisition
- Restructuring
- Operating costs of organizations
- On-going maintenance costs
- Festivals and events
- Industry participation time
- Staff travel
Eligible applicants for this grant funding for business must be federally or provincially incorporated, or First Nations in the province of Ontario, or established under legislation.
Government Funding for Business Support
If you are an organization interested in this grant funding for business program, I highly suggest you contact one of our Canadian Government Funding Experts who can help you with the application process. Also, be sure to follow us on Twitter or sign-up for our Weekly Funding for Small Business E-Newsletter to receive frequent updates on the types of Canadian government funding mechanisms available to your business.