Covid-19 Funding Resources
Tourism Relief Fund
The Government of Canada has just launched the Tourism Relief Fund, to be delivered through FedDev Ontario. The Tourism Relief Fund supports tourism businesses and organizations to adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth. This fund has a $500 million budget (ending March 31, 2023) and will focus on product development and destination development. The fund will empower businesses to create or enhance tourism experiences and products to attract visitors and to help the sector provide the best Canadian tourism experiences.
Contributions to businesses will be either non-repayable contributions up to $100,000 for up to 50% of eligible costs OR fully repayable contributions up to $500,000 for up to 75% of eligible costs.
The fund will offer a minimum of $50 million to support Indigenous tourism initiatives and $15 million will be dedicated to national initiatives that support the advancement of national tourism priorities. Eligible applicants include tourism entities that cater mainly to visitors, such including businesses, not-for-profit organizations, and band councils or other Indigenous organizations and cooperatives.
To be considered eligible for this fund, applicants must meet at least one of the following criteria:
- Be a key supplier or operator in the visitor experience;
- Be part of a defined tourism cluster or a tourism dependent community, including supporting downtown cores; or
- Provide an anchor product or service in a tourism destination.
For more information on eligibility and how to apply, please consult the Tourism Relief Fund – Application guide - FedDev Ontario
Reopening Fund
The Reopening Fund will provide $200 million over two years through existing programs to support Canada’s festivals, cultural events, outdoor theatre performances, heritage celebrations, local museums, amateur sport events, and more. It will support organizations and projects that deliver in-person experiences and events that draw visitors to our communities, and will complement tourism-related initiatives to be delivered by federal Regional Development Agencies. It will be delivered by Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts and Telefilm Canada.
Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative
The Major Festivals and Events Support Initiative has a budget of $200 million over two years and is delivered by Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario and Western Economic Diversification Canada. It specifically supports major, recurring festivals and events with annual revenues exceeding $10 million.
The initiative will help events with their liquidity needs to ensure continued operations or adapt their activities to new, pandemic-related realities and requirements. It will also assist in enhancing product and experience offering so that events are better positioned as the economy reopens.
FEDERAL TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY RECOVERY PROGRAM
SIX-MONTH INTEREST & PENALTY FREE PERIOD
Ontario Covid-19 Small Business Relief Grant
The Ontario government announced a new Ontario COVID-19 Small Business Relief Grant for small businesses that have been subject to closure under the modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen. The program will provide a $10,000 grant to eligible businesses.
Click Here to Learn More.
Ontario Business Costs Rebate Program
Eligible businesses required to reduce capacity to 50%, such as smaller retail stores, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 50% of their costs. While businesses required to close for indoor activities, such as restaurants and gyms, will receive a rebate payment equivalent to 100% of their costs.
Online applications for this program will open January 18, 2022, with payments to eligible business provided retroactive to December 19, 2021. Businesses will be required to submit property tax and energy bills as part of the application process.
Learn More Here.
Reconnect Ontario 2022 Program
Festival and event organizers continue to adopt innovative approaches to delivering programming that engages people across the province. The Reconnect Ontario program supports festivals and events that have a tourism economic impact and motivate visitors to rediscover Ontario, reconnect people with local experiences and generate increased tourism spending.The deadline to apply for the Reconnect Ontario 2022 program.
For information on the program, please see the Reconnect Ontario Application Guide.
Information about how to apply to the program is available at Ontario.ca.
Celebrate Ontario
The Celebrate Ontario Blockbuster program supports costs related to hosting:
- Major one-time events in Ontario
- Events that do not recur annually or biennially in Ontario
- National or international events in Ontario
Learn More Here.
Provincial Tourism Economic Development and Recovery Fund
As a reminder, the Tourism Economic Development and Recovery Fund (TEDRF) is an application-based, cost-sharing program designed to provide non-capital funding to projects that either:
- Encourage the development of innovative new tourism products.
- Support tourism investment
- Build the capacity of Ontario’s tourism industry
The program also supports innovative tourism recovery projects aimed at increasing tourism within Ontario to address the reduction in global travel as a result of coronavirus (COVID-19).
Grassroots Growth Initiative
The Ontario government is investing $1 million annually to promote locally grown food and support the economic growth and success of the province’s agri-food sector. Up to $100,000 is available for marketing projects that encourages Ontarians to buy fresh, locally grown and made agri-food products.
Learn More Here.
Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund
The Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund helps not-for-profit organizations cover the marketing and promotional costs of their new attraction or special event.
Click Here to Learn More.