5741 River Rd, Niagara Falls, ON L2G 3K9
On April 6, it was announced that the Tourism Partnership of Niagara (Niagara Tourism) received a non-repayable contribution of $8.5 million from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), to deliver the Tourism Relief Fund to tourism businesses in Niagara-On-The-Lake, St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, Port Colborne and Grimsby.
Support is available for small businesses in the tourism sector to recover from the impacts of the pandemic and seize new market opportunities through enhanced or new products and services.
Through Niagara Tourism small businesses in the Niagara region can apply for non-repayable contributions of up to $100,000 for up to 50% of eligible project costs and not-for-profit organizations can apply for non-repayable contributions of up to $100,000 for 100% of eligible costs.
Eligible projects will fall under one of two themes:
Examples of project activities may include the following:
Examples of project activities may include the following:
Priority consideration will be given to projects that:
For-profit businesses:
Contributions to businesses will consist of:
For not-for-profit organizations and Indigenous entities (not generating profits), contributions will normally be non‑repayable:
Recipients would not normally receive funding for more than one project.
Legal name of Applicant Organization: The name of the organization that appears on your incorporation documents, and/or Partnership Agreement, Letters Patent, or other relevant documentation related to the formation of your organization.
Operating name: The name under which the business is publicly conducted e.g., 123456 Ontario Ltd., operating as XYZ Technologies.
Type of Organization: From the dropdown menu, select the category that accurately reflects your organization type or legal structure.
Important notes: eligible applicants must be capable of entering into a legally binding agreement.
Business Number: This is a unique nine-digit number assigned to both businesses and not-for-profit organizations by the Canada Revenue Agency. Should you be an unincorporated Indigenous applicant, please leave blank or fill in with zeros. Include your band number under section 3 a) if applicable.
NOTE:Under no circumstances should applicants include a Social Insurance Number as part of the application process to FedDev Ontario. Any documents that contain Social Insurance Numbers must ensure that the numbers are redacted before submitting to FedDev Ontario
Band Number (if applicable): This is a unique three-digit number that distinguishes Indigenous organizations.
Select from the drop-down menu to indicate the nature of your organization: Select what industry most accurately reflects your organization. If you select “other,” please specify in the provided textbox.
Provide a brief description of the applicant organization
: Please provide some details about your organization. Key items that should be included in your summary are:Number of full-time employees inside and outside of Canada: In the appropriate field, please list the current total number of full-time employees (FTEs) working in Canada and outside of Canada, including those employees who may be working remotely but whose jobs were previously considered to be based in Canada (or outside of Canada).
For reference, calculate any FTE jobs as the employment of one person full-time, or more than one person part-time, such that the total working time is equivalent to one person working full-time. Generally, FTE positions involve between 35-40 hours in a regular work week. Do not include FTEs employed by suppliers or contracted services.
Please indicate the person who is authorized to represent the organization, and who will be the main point of contact regarding the funding request. Ideally, the authorized organization contact is also a signing officer. If not, confirmation of that person's right to represent the organization may be required. Include this contact’s regular business number and a cell phone number.
Note: This cannot be a consultant, as FedDev Ontario will only communicate with the applicant.
A short project description: Briefly describe the project's main activities and the anticipated outcome(s) of the project.
Please note, this information may be used by FedDev Ontario for public reporting.
Estimated project start date: For projects already underway, insert the day from which your organization began incurring eligible costs for activities associated with this project.
For projects that are yet to begin, insert the date you anticipate incurring expenses for your project using the format of Year, Month, Day (YYYY-MM-DD).
Note that the project start date cannot be earlier than April 19, 2021.
Estimated Project End Date: Insert the last day you anticipate incurring expenses for your project.
Note that the project end date cannot be later than December 31, 2022.
Identify and describe how your organization meets at least one of the following program parameters: From the three options listed, select the option(s) that most accurately applies to your organization. You must select at least one option.
In the textbox, explain your selection(s). Your description should clearly outline how this project aligns with the criteria of the program.
Project Description: In this section, describe your project, including:
Your answer should serve as a rationale for why this project should receive funding through the TRF. Please refer to the section on Eligible activities for more information. Please describe how and the degree to which your project falls within one of the focus areas for the program or priority (as outlined in About the TRF):
Use non-technical language when describing your project (i.e. description of the project for the general public) and avoid including any confidential or proprietary information. The project description provides FedDev Ontario with a high-level overview of the project and outlines the main elements of the project. It should provide an understanding of why you are seeking financial assistance, how you will use the funds, and how the funds will support the objectives of your project.
Is your organization proposing to deliver a third-party project?
Indicate whether your organization is applying to FedDev Ontario to deliver support based on a proposal to re-distribute funding and/or offer business advice or other services to ultimate recipients in the tourism sector.
If you selected yes, in the textbox provided, please identify any key project partners of this application. Describe how this project does not duplicate other existing measures or initiatives, including from government or otherwise. Explain why federal government funding is required to complete the project. Attach a project plan outlining key project details.
Estimate the total value of your organization’s annual revenue from domestic tourists: In Canadian dollars, provide the estimated value of revenue that your organization receives annually from domestic tourists. This includes all regions of Canada.
Estimate the total value of your organization’s annual revenue from international tourists: In Canadian dollars, provide the estimated amount of revenue that your organization receives from internationals tourists. This excludes tourists from within Canada.
Estimate the annual number of visits to your organization from domestic tourists: Provide an estimate of the annual number of visits that your organization receives from domestic tourists.
Estimate the annual number of visits to your organization from international tourists: Provide an estimate of the annual number of visits that your organization receives from international tourists.
Estimates should be based on pre-pandemic levels. Please make every effort to provide realistic estimates, and provide any context or evidence as an attachment to your application (as applicable).
Will support from this initiative help your organization adapt or create tourism products and/or services? Indicate whether federal government funding through the TRF will help your organization to adapt existing or create new tourism products and/or services.
If you selected yes, in the text box provided, explain your answer.
Describe the project’s key risks and mitigation strategies: Indicate the risks associated with your project, as well as key methods of risk mitigation that will be used for the project. Examples of risk may include: financial, trade, regulatory, implementation, and/or any risks that may impact a successful project outcome.
In this section, please also describe the capacity of your organization to execute your proposed project, including (if applicable) examples of past projects undertaken with support from the Government of Canada.
Are any of the activities of the proposed project expected to occur on federal lands? Indicate whether any of the proposed activities will occur on federal lands. Federal lands are defined in the Impact Assessment Act. Activities on federal lands could be subject to additional requirements.
Have you or will you have to adapt operations to meet COVID-19 health and safety regulations? Indicate whether your organization has or will have to adapt operations in order to meet COVID-19 health and safety regulations.
If you selected yes, in the text-box provided, explain your answer. Describe as completely as possible, the impact of COVID-19 on your operations, including examples of measures taken (or to be taken) to adapt to capacity restrictions, implement health and safety measures for visitors and staff, digitize operations, etc. If applicable, explain how adaptations have impacted your season(s).
Please describe any hardships your organization (or organizations you support) has experienced due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Describe as completely as possible the impact of COVID-19 on your organization. Include, where applicable, the length of closures, planned or actual layoffs, impacts on revenue, operations and market demand, and confirmation of COVID-19 relief supports received. Where possible, measure the impact using year-over-year comparative data. If applicable, explain how COVID-19 has impacted your season(s). Very detailed responses are encouraged.
In this section, you must also explain how this funding is needed to help position your organization for recovery.
Note that costs may be eligible on a retroactive basis up to 12 months prior to the receipt of a project application, but no earlier than April 19, 2021.
Project Costs by Category: The TRF will only fund eligible costs.
Eligible costs include:
Note: All costs are approved in advance and are included in the contribution agreement. FedDev Ontario reserves the right to make the final determination on the value of contributions and to exclude expenditures deemed to be ineligible or outside the scope of the project.
Please note, Total Project Costs must be equal in the three tables (A. Total Project Costs by Fiscal Year, B. Total Project Costs by Cost Category and C. Funding Sources).
FedDev Ontario Contribution: In Canadian dollars, indicate the amount of funding requested from FedDev Ontario (please see reminder below). Complete Applications for Funding will undergo a due diligence review. Funding decisions will take into account the minimum amount required to carry out the project.
Important reminders about financial support
Total number of jobs created and maintained at the end date of your Project: Indicate in the respective fields how many full-time equivalent (FTE) jobs are expected to be created and maintained as a direct result of your project.
For reference, calculate any FTE jobs as the employment of one person full-time, or more than one person part-time, such that the total working time is equivalent to one person working full-time. Generally, FTE positions involve between 35-40 hours in a regular work-week. Do not include FTEs employed by suppliers or contracted services.
The Government of Canada is committed to diversity and inclusion so that all Canadians have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to the growth of the economy. Gender and diversity data collected may be used for research, statistics, program and policy evaluation, risk management, strategy development, reporting, and gender-based analysis (including GBA+). This information can help the Government of Canada monitor progress on inclusive access to federal support programs and services, to identify and remove barriers, and to make changes to improve inclusive access.
The Government of Canada understands that participation of underrepresented groups is an integral part of building strong and inclusive communities.
If your organization or project does not align with or support the below groups, or you do not wish to declare your status, leave the following fields blank.
“Led or majority-led” includes organizations where members of underrepresented groups are involved in long-term control and management of the business or organization and play an active role in both strategic and day-to-day decision making.
If applicable, please indicate whether your organization is led or majority-led by one or more of the following groups. Note that this information will not be used in the assessment process. Aggregate and anonymous data may be shared with other federal organizations, and/or published for reporting and monitoring purposes:
If applicable, please indicate whether your project will influence any of the above listed underrepresented groups. If you do not know or prefer not to answer, please leave the field(s) blank.
Include the following mandatory documentation as an attachment to the PDF form:
Applications submitted without these documents may be considered incomplete and will delay the assessment of your project’s merit.
Other attachments are permitted as supporting information. They must be relevant to the project and complement answers provided in the Application for Funding. These may include a project plan, detailed budgets, copies of relevant permits/licenses, evidence of support from the community, supplier quotes, and other relevant documents. The total size of all supplementary materials cannot exceed 100MB.
Financial statements are written records that convey the business activities and the financial performance of an organization. Financial statements are often audited by government agencies, accountants, firms, etc. to ensure accuracy and for tax, financing, or investing purposes. Financial statements include balance sheets and income statements.
It is a mandatory requirement under the TRF that applicants provide internal or external financial statements for the last two full fiscal years. The glossary below can be used to support applicants in providing this information.
CFO/CEO attested |
A cover letter to a financial statement (balance sheet, and income statement) that is prepared by the company and attested to be true by the CFO or CEO of the company or equivalent. CFO/CEO equivalent will include the following: President, Vice President, Director of Finance, Finance Manager, or Controller |
External financial statements |
Externally prepared financial statements such as audited financial statements, review engagement, or notice to reader. |
Financial statement |
A financial statement is not:
|
Interim financial statement |
A financial statement prepared by the company in the case that a company has existed for less than one year, or if the company's financial statements are not available for the current operating year. It does not include an attestation. |
Internal financial statements |
Internally-prepared financial statements such as a CEO/CFO or equivalent attested financial statement. At a minimum, these statements include a balance sheet, income statement (including breakdown of costs), and statement of cash flow. |
Notice to Reader |
A compilation of information provided by the company. The information undergoes no tests and the accountant preparing them offers no opinion or assurance. The cover letter by the accountant discloses what type of financial statement is being released (audited, review-engagement, or notice to reader). |
Officer’s Certificate |
An Officer’s Certificate identifies the officer and directors of an organization, and indicates that they have the authority to enter into a funding agreement on behalf of an applicant applying for funding. It also provides a specimen signature for each officer or director identified. |
Review engagement |
An accountant-reviewed financial statement focusing only on whether the statement is “plausible”—that is, likely to be accurate. The accountant preparing these statements does not give an opinion on their quality or accuracy. The cover letter by the accountant discloses what type of financial statement is being released (audited, review-engagement, or notice to reader). |