If you have the next great tourism idea for northeastern Ontario, funding and mentorship are available to help get your idea off the ground.
Launched on Sept. 27, the Northeastern Ontario ‘Spark’ Mentorship and Grants Program will provide selected recipients with $3,000 in seed money, mentorship, and support from industry partners to launch new tourism activities in the region.
It’s a collaborative project of Destination Northern Ontario, Tourism Excellence North, Northeastern Ontario Tourism, Tourism North Bay, Sudbury Tourism, Tourism Timmins, and the Tourism Innovation Lab.
“While challenges remain, we are optimistic about the future of Northern Ontario, and it is essential for each of us to contribute to making our region a preferred destination for visitors,” David MacLachlan, executive director of Destination Northern Ontario, said in a news release.
“We look forward to the journey ahead and working together in partnership to deliver successful programming that will better enable all of us to grow and prosper.”
The partners say they’re looking for ideas that will “create high-quality tourism experiences, address gaps in tourism products and services, encourage longer stays and repeat visits, and increase tourism spending throughout the year.”
This is the second Northern Ontario intake for the provincewide program. Past recipients from the region include a 2Spirit Awareness Week & Gathering, culinary experiences, stand-up paddle board programs, yurt accommodations, pop-up ice bike rentals, floating cafe and events, nature experiences, and yoga retreats.
The application process is open from now until Oct. 29.
Proposals will be reviewed by a jury, and finalists will pitch their ideas on Nov. 21 during the Northern Ontario Tourism Summit in North Bay where three winners will be selected.
Prospective applicants can tune in to a free information session on Oct. 10 at 11:30 a.m. Register for the event here.
