Experience Ontario 2024 Program

Receive up to $125,000 in Grant Funding.

The Ontario government is investing in funding through the Experience Ontario 2024 program to provide support to in-person festivals and events with a tourism economic impact to motivate visitors to rediscover Ontario, reconnect people with local experiences, and increase tourism spending.

Funding Amount

Tier 1: Receive up to for 50% of cash expenses to a maximum of $125,000 for cash expenses of $1M or greater.
Tier 2: Receive up to for 50% of cash expenses to a maximum of $55,000 for cash expenses between $250K – $999K.
Tier 3: Receive up to for 50% of cash expenses to a maximum of $20,000 for cash expenses less than $250K.

Eligible Applicants

To be eligible for this program, applicants must be an Ontario-based entities in existence since January 2022 or before. Applicants must also have a Canadian bank account in the legal name of the applicant at a Canadian financial institution conducting business in Ontario.

Eligible Activities

Projects may be eligible if they offer programming that encourages people to travel, experience events in person and celebrate Ontario.

Deadline to Apply

The application deadline is January 11, 2024.

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Experience Ontario 2024 Program

Amount of Funding

Tier 1: Tourism festivals or events with cash expenses of $1M or greater will be eligible for 50% of cash expenses to a maximum of $125,000.
Tier 2: Tourism festivals or events with cash expenses between $250K – $999K will be eligible for 50% of cash expenses to a maximum of $55,000.
Tier 3: Tourism festivals or events with cash expenses less than $250K will be eligible for 50% of cash expenses to a maximum of $20,000.

Experience Ontario 2024 Program

Eligible Applicants

An applicant may be considered eligible if they fall under the following eligibility requirements:

Be an Ontario-based entities in existence since January 2022 or before; and
Have a Canadian bank account in the legal name of the applicant at a Canadian financial institution conducting business in Ontario.

In addition, your festival or event must meet all the following requirements:

Take place between April 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025, over a minimum of 2 days (one-day festivals or events held on Canada Day are eligible);
Occur in Ontario;
Be open to the public at large without membership in a club or group;
Previous year’s attendance must include tourist attendance at 30% of overall attendance or 5,000 tourists;
Have been held at least once in the previous three-year period;
Be promoted to tourists; and
Follow all municipal and provincial guidelines, including health and safety guidelines.

Eligible Applicants for Canadian Government Funding

Experience Ontario 2024 Program

Eligible Activities

To be eligible, projects must meet the following criteria:

Offer programming that encourages people to travel, experience events in person and celebrate Ontario;
Draw tourists and increase visitor spending through innovative programming in partnership with businesses and community partners;
Provide job opportunities for Ontarians in the tourism, culture, and entertainment sectors; and
Increase Ontario’s profile through media, social media, or broadcast exposure.

Eligible Expenses for Canadian Government Funding

Experience Ontario 2024 Program

Program Deadline

Application deadline is January 11, 2024.

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