External Funding

Grants Ontario is a central resource for funding offered by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture & Gaming and other provincial ministries and agencies. It provides one-window access to program details, application steps, and tools to track your submission.

There are several funding and grant opportunities available to support tourism businesses across Ontario. Below is a round-up of current programs you can apply for, curated by the team at the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is a provincial agency and one of Canada’s largest granting foundations. Each year, it awards over $110 million to nonprofit and charitable organizations through a range of programs designed to support diverse community needs.

Experience Ontario 2026 supports festivals and events that create a measurable tourism impact. The program aims to encourage visitors to explore Ontario, engage with local experiences, and increase spending that benefits communities and the broader tourism sector.

The Regional Development Program provides targeted support for projects and investments that strengthen economic growth across Ontario’s regions. It offers funding to businesses, municipalities, and nonprofit organizations pursuing local development initiatives.

The Black Entrepreneurship Program (BEP) is a national partnership involving the Government of Canada, Black-led business groups, and financial institutions. It aims to help Black Canadian entrepreneurs access resources, build capacity, and grow successful businesses.

The Tourism Development Fund (TDF) supports organizations and individuals planning events, conferences, tournaments, or business initiatives that drive tourism. Its goal is to encourage activities that attract visitors and strengthen local tourism economies.

The Municipal Grants Program offers annual funding opportunities to support and strengthen community-based initiatives across the region. Eligible projects include local events, festivals, programs, and other activities that foster community engagement.

The Sport Hosting Program provides project-based funding to help organizations deliver major national or international amateur sporting events in Ontario. It aims to create lasting sport legacies at all levels while generating economic benefits through increased tourism.

The Tourism Advisory Panel (TAP) is a cost-sharing, application-based program that supports events and projects demonstrating strong tourism potential. It focuses on initiatives capable of attracting more than 5,000 attendees, encouraging new tourism products, and driving visitation to Gananoque.

The Rural Ontario Development (ROD) Program replaces the previous RED Program and provides cost-sharing support for projects that strengthen rural communities. It aims to fund initiatives that encourage economic growth and development across Ontario’s rural regions.

The Lennox & Addington Economic Development Office offers funding of up to $4,000 to support tourism initiatives. Eligible projects include new event creation, enhancement of existing events, and the development of new tourism products or activities, available until funds are fully allocated.

The Community Impact Grant offers up to $10,000 in financial and in-kind municipal support, with municipal resources applied first. Eligible not-for-profits and charities must apply through the Grant Committee, outline required City resources, and demonstrate how their Belleville-based project aligns with one of the City’s strategic themes.

The Tourism Grant provides funding of up to $10,000 to support events, festivals, conferences, and tourism initiatives. Eligible expenses include event costs, rental costs, registration fees for not-for-profit status, and licensing, with funding intended for projects that promote tourism and cultural experiences.

The TTE Program, delivered through Firecircle and supported in part by the Government of Canada, provides entrepreneurs with tools and resources to develop their tourism businesses. It is designed to guide participants through planning, launching, and growing successful tourism ventures.

The wage subsidy is available to employers who hire students enrolled in recognized post-secondary programs for paid co-op or internship positions. It supports businesses across the visitor economy, including accommodations, food and beverage, recreation, transportation, and travel services.

The Save On Energy programs and incentives help businesses implement energy-efficient upgrades to reduce costs and improve sustainability. These programs make it easy to invest in retrofits that benefit both your bottom line and the environment.

Provides direct financial support to individual employers or employer consortia seeking to deliver training to their employees. The program helps businesses build workforce skills and capacity to support growth and innovation across their operations.

The Tourism Innovation Challenge, presented by the Cornwall Tourism Development Fund, is accepting applications for its pitch competition. The winner will receive a $25,000 prize to invest in their business and innovative tourism solutions.

The Ontario Arts Council offers over 65 grant programs to support individual artists, collectives, ad hoc groups, and organizations across twelve artistic sectors. Funding is available to help creators develop projects, grow their audiences, and strengthen Ontario’s arts community.

OCAF provides Ontario cultural organizations with funding to support cultural tourism, increase revenue, and drive economic growth and job creation. The program helps organizations strengthen their operations while attracting more visitors to local communities.

The Canadian Experiences Fund provides $58.5 million over two years, including $6 million for Atlantic Canada, to support communities in developing tourism products, facilities, and experiences. Its goal is to enhance tourism offerings and attract more visitors across Canada.

The Ontario Music Investment Fund (OMIF) offers targeted economic development support to the province’s music industry. It helps music companies with growth potential expand operations while creating opportunities for emerging artists to record, perform, and thrive in Ontario.

The Local Festivals component provides funding to local groups for recurring festivals showcasing artists, artisans, heritage performers, and First Nations, Inuit, and Métis cultural carriers. It also supports celebrations of LGBTQ2+ communities and Indigenous cultural traditions.

The Green Municipal Fund helps municipalities upgrade infrastructure, achieve climate objectives, and contribute to a net-zero Canada by 2050. The program provides support for projects that enhance sustainability, efficiency, and community health.

This program offers eligible employers wage subsidies and access to talented youth with innovative skills. Subsidies enable opportunities in heritage, arts, culture, and official languages while fostering workforce development in these sectors.

The Trail Catalyst Fund provides funding to support trail development, restoration, and sustainability. It helps communities enhance trails through infrastructure improvements, environmental projects, Indigenous partnerships, maintenance, and accessibility initiatives.