Tourism Accelerator Grant

Tourism Accelerator Grant is sponsored by City of Port Colborne. Funding for tourism projects that could include clean-up events addressing marine debris to enhance coastal appeal, available for 2026 projects.

Tourism Accelerator Grant Bridges, Roads, Sidewalks & Streetlights Community Engagement Projects Healthcare in Port Colborne Arts & Culture Master Plan Community Groups and Organizations Heritage, Arts and Culture Historical and Marine Museum Parks, Pavilions, Trails, Fields and Green Spaces Tourism Accelerator Grant Vale Health and Wellness Centre Building Permits and Construction Cruise Ships and Waterfront Revitalization Government Business Enterprises Tariff and Trade Resources Municipal Consent Permits Opportunities, Projects and Tenders Affordable Housing Strategy Applications, Grants, Licences and Permits Budget and Financial Reporting Council, Boards and Committees Calendar Mayoral Powers Decisions & Directions Municipal Accommodation Tax Plans, Reports and Studies Home Recreation and Leisure Tourism Accelerator Grant Tourism Accelerator Grant The Tourism Accelerator Grant (TAG) Program was established to provide businesses and organizations with financial support to expand Port Colborne’s tourism offerings and enhance its appeal as a destination .

Made possible by the Municipal Accommodation Tax , the TAG program has an annual allocation of $25,000 to invest in eligible projects. Applicant s are required to make a minimum 50% financial contribution toward the total project budget , with the City supporting up to 50% of the costs, to a maximum of $ 10 ,000 . The amount of funding awarded to each project , whether partial or full, will be determined at the City’s discretion.

Submitting an application does not guarantee funding. Funding will be available for projects occurring between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2026 . Project activities and costs that occur outside the 2026 calendar year are ineligible for funding.

Applications for tourism events or festivals must be submitted at least 60 days prior to the start date , or by the application deadline — whichever comes first. Completed applications are due by 5:00 pm EST on April 30, 2026 . A second intake of applications may be offered at a later date if funds remain available.

Th e TAG program ’s five funding streams are designed to stimulate key areas that will sustainably grow and strengthen Port Colborne ’ s tourism industry. Applicants are permitted one project per funding stream , with a maximum of two (2) applications per year, requesting no more than $ 15 ,000 in total.

Product Incubation – Develop a feasibility or business plan to evaluate the potential for a scalable , long-term tourism product Experience Development – Create a unique , market-ready experiential product for consumption by visitors or tourists Events – Host a new tourism event or festival or expan d an existing event or festival with new programming or strategic enhancements that produce greater economic and community benefits Marketing – Utilize the City’s destination marketing organization (DMO) , Niagara’s South Coast , to partner on showcasing Port Colborne and raising it s profile Sustainability – Implement practice s , service s , or workforce training initiatives to improve capacity, encourage responsible consumption, promote environmental stewardship, or build meaningful engagement with the local community Priority consideration will be given to projects that : Align with the City’s Tourism Strategy and offer quality visitor experiences for both underrepresented and well-represented groups; Drive visitor economy growth through measurable increases in visitation, spending, and/or employment; Target opportunities to stimulate consumer demand during need periods and shoulder seasons ( i.e., October through April) ; Foster c ollaboration or partnership s among businesses seeking to entice consumers to visit Port Colborne ; Deliver one or multi-day e vent programming and activations — in the areas of sport, recreation, culinary, agriculture, nature, arts, culture or heritage — with a focus on attracting visitors from more than 40 kilometres away; or A mplify the DMO’s ( Niagara’s South Coast ) marketing activities and engage their primary target markets .

Applicants are not required to meet every priority area. Alignment with at least one of these priority areas is sufficient. Eligible applicants include for-profit businesses , not-for-profit organizations , and public sector agencies that are incorporated , in good standing with the City of Port Colborne , and undertaking a project within the municipality.

Indigenous individuals and businesses owned and controlled by Indigenous Peoples, as well as Indigenous not-for-profit organizations or associations (excluding those with charitable or religious purposes), are also eligible.

Research or consulting services related to feasibility or business planning Capital and in frastructure development costs, such as third-party construction contractors, building materials, and associated project supplies Rental, lease, or purchase of stationary equipment , including signage L icenses , permits , software, and design costs Fees for artists, speakers , or entertainment Marketing and advertising costs Training and workforce development costs Expenses incurred before January 1, 2026 Expenses incurred after December 31, 2026 P re-existing deficit s (grant s or loan s ) 2.

Operating and administrative costs Existing overhead, staffing , and administrative expenses , including non-incremental wages and payments to administrators or Board members Costs associated with ongoing or regularly scheduled maintenance work , including repairs to capital assets M emberships , general subscriptions not specific to the project , and education or certification program fees 3.

Capital and asset-related costs C apital acquisitions or expen ses not pre-approved by the City or not directly related to the project, including acquiring or leasing land, facilities, vehicles , and other intangible assets Depreciation , amortization , b ond discounts , and other accounting or financing treatments related to capital assets 4.

Financial costs and professional fees Professional fees, including l egal , audit, insurance, and real estate services Financing charges , interest payments ( on loans, invested capital, bonds, debentures , or mortgages ), r efinancing cost s , l osses on investments, bad debts, or any other financial losses Taxes or costs for which the r ecipient is eligible for rebate s, including p rovincial sales tax, goods and services tax (GST), or harmonized sales tax (HST) Donations , re- grant ing , charitable or fundraising expenses, and any goods or services received through donations or in-kind contributions Political contributions or lobby ist fees P rize money , competition prizes , or awards Food , h ospitality , t ravel and accommodations costs This list may not cover every eligible or ineligible cost.

If anything is unclear, please contact the City for guidance. TAG program funding does not make the City responsible in any way for delivering the project. Projects approved for funding will be formalized through contribution agreements outlining all terms and conditions , including proof - of - insurance requirements .

All contribution agreements must be signed by an individual with designated signing authority for the business or organization. The d isbursement of funding will not take place until both parties sign the contribution agreement . M aterial changes to the project that differ from the approved application will require prior approval before any grant funds are spent.

TAG program funding cannot be used to match funds received from other municipal or provincial government programs, including the City’s Non-Profits Grant s p rogram, the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) program , and the Tourism Partnership of Niagara ’s P artnership P rogram .

Successful applicants who receive TAG program funding must complete a final report, using the template provided by the City, and submit copies of invoices, receipts, and proof of payment for all eligible costs covered by the grant. At least 10% of the funding will be held back until the project is completed and the final report has been submitted.

Grant f und s must be returned to the City if they are not used for the project ’s approved purpose , not spent o n eligible costs, or not u tilized within the calendar yea r. Grant funds cannot be carried over from one year to the next. Additionally, i f changes to the project result in a significant delay or cancellation , the recipient will, after consultation with the City , be required to return the funds.

Recipients must publicly acknowledge the City’s funding support in a manner that is pre-approved and considered appropriate by the City. This funding is a one-time contribution and does not obligate the City to provide future support to the recipient or their project.

Applications received by the deadline date will be reviewed and ranked by an e valuatio n panel using a matrix of pre-established criteria to ensure a fair and equitable adjudication process. The evaluation panel will authorize the release of funding in accordance with these guidelines and within the budget allocated for the calendar year.

Final d ecisions on funding awards by the e valuation panel will be made by the end of May 2026 and are not subject to appeal.

The e valuation panel will be comprised of the following pe ople : Two (2) staff representatives from Corporate Services & Recreation One (1) staff representative from Economic Development One (1) representative from the Economic Development Advisory Committee One (1) staff representative from Niagara’s South Coast Tourism Association (NSCTA) Two (2) representatives from NSCTA’s board of directors Project ideas and draft applications may be prepared in advance and emailed to tourism@portcolborne.

ca for brief feedback and guidance. This does not guarantee application success. Applications will accepted starting on the opening date , with all submissions becoming final on the April 3 0, 2026, deadline .

Applications must be submitted online. Written applications may be accepted upon special request. Projects that may be better suited for the City’s Non-Profits Grants program or the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) program should be directed to those programs for funding consideration.

For any questions about the Tourism Accelerator Grant (TAG) Program, please contact tourism@portcolborne. ca .

Tourism Accelerator Grant Arts & Culture Master Plan Toggle Section Beaches Menu Centennial – Cedar Bay Beach Community Groups and Organizations Toggle Section City Events Menu Heritage, Arts and Culture Toggle Section Heritage, Arts and Culture Menu Arts & Culture Master Plan Historical and Marine Museum Toggle Section Historical and Marine Museum Menu Toggle Section About Us Menu Toggle Section Exhibits Menu Toggle Section Roselawn Menu Historical and Marine Museum Toggle Section Library Menu Toggle Section About the Library Menu Toggle Section Borrow and Learn Menu Toggle Section Digital Resources Menu Toggle Section Our Services Menu Technology and Creativity Toggle Section Technology and Creativity Menu Toggle Section What's Happening Menu Toggle Section Featured Programs Menu Adult Programs and Services Teen Programs and Services Children's Programs and Services Parks, Pavilions, Trails, Fields and Green Spaces Toggle Section Parks, Pavilions, Trails, Fields and Green Spaces Menu Algoport Skate and BMX Park Lockview Park Redevelopment Toggle Section Sugarloaf Marina Menu Vale Health and Wellness Centre Toggle Section Vale Health and Wellness Centre Menu Toggle Section Arenas and Skating Menu © 2020 City of Port Colborne, 66 Charlotte St, Port Colborne ON, L3K 3C8, Tel: 905-835-2900 Designed by eSolutionsGroup Close Old Browser Notification Browser Compatibility Notification It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser.

As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.