Matched Funding Program

Tourism St. Catharines Matched Funding Program

The Tourism St. Catharines Matched Funding Program supports initiatives that boost the city’s tourism profile by attracting more visitors and increasing overnight stays.

This program offers financial assistance to eligible tourism partners whose projects align with one of three key priorities.

Key Priorities

1. Marketing

Support for campaigns that promote St. Catharines as a destination, including but not limited to:
• Media buying
• Digital advertising
• Promotions

2. Investment Attraction

Funding for initiatives that draw attention and investment, including but not limited to:
• Cultural and sporting events
• Familiarization (FAM) tours
• Media hosting

3. Product Development

Assistance for enhancing tourism experiences, including but not limited to:
• Culinary & wine-based tourism
• Cycling infrastructure and programming
• Cultural experiences

Who Can Apply?

The program is open to tourism stakeholders in good standing who contribute to the visitor economy of St. Catharines.

To be eligible, applicants must:

Operate within the tourism sector
Demonstrate how their project will attract visitors, extend stays, or enhance destination appeal
Provide documentation to confirm eligibility and alignment with program goals (if requested)

View Program Guidelines

Apply Today

Help grow tourism in St. Catharines and bring more visitors to our vibrant community.

All applications must be submitted below on or before May 27th at 4:30 pm.

"*" indicates required fields

Applicant Information

Main Contact Name*

First Last

Email*

Phone*

Organization Name*

Grant cheque will be made out to this name as written

Organization Address*

Grant cheque will be mailed to this address as written

Street Address City Province Postal Code

Organization Website

Organization Status*

Who does the organization report to?*

Is the organization incorporated?*

Non-Profit Registration Number*

Key Priorities*

Check applicable box(es) in relation to your project

Marketing (e.g., media buying, digital campaign, promotions)

Investment Attraction (e.g., events-cultural, sporting, etc., FAMs, media hosting)

Product Development (e.g., Culinary & Wine, Cycling, Cultural, etc.)

Event Information

Event Name*

Event Location*

Start Date*

End Date*

Estimated Total Attendance*

Estimated Overnight Stays*

The number of estimated overnight stays in St. Catharines. A hotel report will be required post-event to verify.

Funding Request Information

Total Project Budget ($)*

Requested Funds ($)*

Requested Funds to be Contributed by Tourism St. Catharines

Project Information

Project Scope*

Describe the project in detail using the following key components of the funding criteria matrix.

• Tourist Attraction & Economic Impact
• Regional or National Reach
• Brand Alignment & Image Enhancement
• Partnerships & Collaborations
• Media Exposure & Social Media Impact
• Scalability & Repeatability
• Support for Local Art, Culture, and Agritourism
• Accessibility and Inclusion
• Sustainability & Destination Stewardship

Describe your /organization’s history of successfully managing projects.*

Outline your business’s/organization’s history of successfully managing projects that are of similar scale to your proposed project (or greater) in the past five years.

Include examples of specific achievements such as event attendance (local vs out of region), marketing metrics, economic impact data, and other benefits to the St. Catharines community/Niagara Region.

How will the matched funding grant be used?*

Describe in detail where the matched funding grant will be used in relation to the project (e.g. Opening Ceremonies, talent, marketing buy, digital asset development Etc.)

Partnership Program Details

Project Role and Responsibilities*

Initiative/Project Rationale*

Explain the need/demand for this initiative and its anticipated impact on Niagara tourism.

Metrics – Key Performance Indicators

Describe how key activities will help meet objectives.*

Describe how key activities will help meet objectives and how success will be measured.

Anticipated outputs*

Metric

Base or Last Year

Target

Project Milestones*

Key Activity

Date / Timeline

Budget Information

Tourism St. Catharines Support ($)*

Partner Funding ($)*

Revenues*

Descriptions or details

Amount $

Comments

In Kind*

Descriptions or details

Value $

Comments

Expenses*

Supplier & description