​MIDDLESEX COUNTY
​
“Spark" Mentorships & Grants Program

Do you have a new tourism idea for Middlesex County?
If so, we want to hear from you!

Whether you are an individual, a start-up or an established small business or non-profit organization, there can be many challenges and barriers to bringing a new tourism idea, experience or partnership to fruition. 

​We want to help. The "Spark" Program will match selected candidates with a tourism mentor and provide a source of financial support to help take your great new tourism idea to the next level of development or implementation.

Our goal is to inspire Middlesex County residents, entrepreneurs, small businesses, non-profit organizations and community groups to come forward with creative ideas that will generate new tourism opportunities, offerings, experiences and partnerships in the region.

The program includes:

• Call out for applications from individuals, small businesses, non-profits and community groups
• Application reviews by a jury including local and provincial tourism leaders and innovators
• Finalists' Pitch Session (our friendly take on a tourism Dragon's Den):  
  • ​Save the date: December 1 @ 10:30am-1:00pm
• Selection of 3 winning applicants from Middlesex County

Selected applicants will receive:

• 3 month mentorship with a tourism innovator, experienced operator, industry leader and/or sector expert
• $3,000 "Spark" grant to support tourism idea development activities
• Access to a support network of tourism innovators, entrepreneurs and leaders
• ​Ongoing guidance on other resources and support services provided by partners

​
All program applicants will be invited to join our "Spark" community of tourism innovators, idea makers, partners and supporters for special networking events, one-on-one's, and development workshops.

​See past "Spark" winners from across Ontario.​

​​APPLICATION DEADLINE IS OCTOBER 26, 2022
​Register for an upcoming Info Session below.
​

Program Info Sessions

Missed one of our Middlesex County "Spark" Program Info Sessions. Watch this recording below to learn more about the program and how to apply.

Middlesex County “Spark" Program Application Guide

Who Can Apply?

• Individuals 18+ who live in Middlesex County
• Small businesses (up to 10 full time year-round employees) based in Middlesex County (new or existing)
• Small non-profit organizations and community groups (up to 10 full time year-round employees) based in Middlesex County

What Are We Looking For?
We are looking for new tourism ideas for Middlesex County that address one or more of the following:

• Enhances our current tourism offerings
• Creates high-quality tourism experiences
• Addresses gaps in tourism products and services
• Motivates travel, longer stays and repeat visits
• Increases year-round/shoulder season visits and tourism spending
• Incorporates sustainable tourism practices

*While there are no specific categories, we are especially interested in new tourism ideas that relate to: year-round accommodations, building relationships and collaborations between culinary tourism and agricultural providers, and recreational and sport tourism.
*New tourism ideas must be based in and benefit Middlesex County.

What Is A “Tourism” Idea?
Experiences, products and partnerships that motivate travel to your region by people living more than 40km away, across the border or internationally, and provide engagement, participation, purchasing and/or travel related opportunities while they are visiting. 

What Do We Mean By “New”?
Tourism experiences, products, businesses and partnerships that are in the ideation stage, have just been created, are under development, or have been promoted/offered publicly for 6 months or less.
​
What Is “Sustainable Tourism"?
"Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment and host communities.“ - World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

Other “Tourism” Definitions and Examples
Experiences: Opportunities for visitors to engage, participate, interact, learn and explore in a region to get a local understanding and broader awareness of a destination, often combining different elements (eg. farmers market tour followed by a culinary class led by a local chef)     
Products: Buyable goods and services related to tourism in the region (eg. accommodations, attractions, tours, ticketed events, travel packages and other tourism bundles)
Collaborative Partnerships: Two or more businesses/organizations working together to promote and/or deliver a new tourism related experience or product (eg. Metro Zoo + Cycling Group = “Jungle Ride” event)
​

“Spark" Program Application

How to Apply?
Submit a 1,000 word maximum document with responses to each of the following 8 questions:

1. Contact information (name, phone number, email, business/organization name, website)
2. Tell us about yourself, your small business or organization.
3. What’s your new tourism idea for Middlesex County?
4. How is your idea innovative or unique?
5. What stage are you at with your idea?
6. Who are your target market(s) and/or partner(s)?
7. How would you utilize the “Spark” mentorship and grant funds if selected?
8. What are your hoped for outcomes and impacts?
Copy and paste these questions into a word document and provide a response for each, keeping the full application document to 1,000 words or less, or download the application form below. 

DOWNLOAD APPLICATION FORM

​In addition to the application document, please include a file or link to a 1 minute maximum unedited, unproduced video introducing yourself, your small business, non-profit organization or community group. For example, use your smart phone to take the video, and then upload it to a file sharing service (eg. Dropbox, Google, WeTransfer) or a publicly accessible video sharing website such as YouTube (if you don’t want other people to find it, mark it as unlisted) and include the file or link in your email with your application document.

IMPORTANT: Both the 1,000 word maximum document and 1 minute maximum video are required for a complete application submission. Incomplete applications or applications that are above the maximum word/time limits will not be reviewed. 

Application Submission
Please submit your application to apply@tourisminnovation.ca by October 26, 2022 at 11:59pm and include "Middlesex County" in the subject line.

Emails will be sent to confirm receipt of all applications within 24 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email, send another email or call 1-844-455-0325 (ext. 1) to make sure we received your application. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted or reviewed.

Your Application and Personal Information
By submitting an application you agree that all of the information contained in your application is complete and accurate. You also consent that the Tourism Innovation Lab and its partners may collect the personal information contained herein within the application review process and for future program related communications. Your application will be kept confidential during the review period. All review jury and judge panel decisions are final and cannot be appealed.

Watch this recording of our Middlesex County "Spark" Program Launch event held virtually on September 20, 2022.

​Learn more about the Tourism Innovation Lab

---

​Western Canada Home Base
Tourism Innovation Lab
c/o The Common
38016 Cleveland Ave, Squamish, BC V8B 0A1
info@tourisminnovation.ca
1-844-455-0325 x 2 (toll-free)

We respectfully acknowledge that our home base in Squamish sits on the traditional, ancestral and unceded territory of the Coast Salish peoples: Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and Musqueam First Nations. We will honour that by collaborating with Indigenous-led organizations and businesses to support the advancement of Indigenous tourism in the region and across Canada.

​Central Canada Home Base 
Tourism Innovation Lab
c/o University of Windsor - EPICentre
​2455 Wyandotte St W, Windsor, ON N9B 3B3
​​​info@tourisminnovation.ca
1-844-455-0325 x 1 (toll-free)

We respectfully acknowledge that our home base in Windsor sits on the traditional territory of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, which is comprised of the Ojibwa, the Odawa, and the Potawatomi Peoples. We will honour that by collaborating with Indigenous-led organizations and businesses to support the advancement of Indigenous tourism in the region and across Canada.