Applications open for eligible small businesses in tourism and travel industries.
The Ontario government is providing one‐time payments of $10,000 to $20,000 to support eligible small tourism and travel businesses struggling to recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the new $100-million Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant.
The launch of the program was announced today by Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries.
“Prior to the pandemic, Ontario’s tourism generated more than $36 billion in economic activity and supported more than 400,000 jobs across the province,” said Lisa MacLeod,
Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. “Our government is working with small businesses to overcome the challenges of the past year – through programs like the Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant – and help the tourism industry reclaim its place as an economic powerhouse and key job creator in our province.”
This grant will support eligible small tourism and travel businesses that did not receive the Ontario Small Business Support Grant (OSBSG), such as travel agents, hotels, motels, resorts, and bed and breakfasts. To qualify, businesses must have fewer than 100 employees and demonstrate they have experienced a minimum 20 per cent revenue decline between 2019 and 2020.
As announced in the 2021 Budget, Ontario is investing more than $400 million over the next three years in new initiatives to support tourism, hospitality, culture, sport and recreation sectors. This builds on investments of $225 million announced earlier, bringing the total support for these sectors to more than $625 million since the pandemic began.
Small business owners can use the grant in whatever way makes the most sense for their business.
Applications for this grant will close on Friday, June 25, 2021.
Quick Facts
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For information on eligibilty and how to apply: www.ontario.ca/covidsupport.
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Tourism‐related industries experienced a total combined loss of 141,000 jobs between February 2020 and April 2021.
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The 2021 Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protecting People’s Health and Our Economy, brings total investments to $16.3 billion to protect people’s health and $23.3 billion to protect the provincial economy. Ontario’s COVID-19 action plan support now totals $51 billion.
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The new Ontario Tourism and Travel Small Business Support Grant, which provides $100 million to help small businesses recover from the pandemic, is part of Ontario’s 2021 Budget.
Additional Resources
Need Help?
If you need help with your application, please visit the
website or phone 416-325-6691 / 1-855-216-3090 or email
TourismSmallBusinessGrant@ontario.ca