​SIMCOE COUNTY
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“Spark" Mentorships & Grants Program

Do you have a new tourism idea for Simcoe 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 new tourism idea to the next level of development.

Our goal is to inspire residents, entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profit organizations based in Simcoe County 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 innovators and leaders
• Finalists' Pitch Sessions (our friendly take on a tourism Dragon's Den):
  • ​June 15 @ 4:00-6:30pm (virtual) 
• Selection of 3 winning applicants​

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
• ​Additional support and resources provided by program partners
  
  

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

See past winners of the "Spark" Program in Ontario

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APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 12, 2022
Register for an upcoming Info Session below.
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Simcoe County “Spark" Application Guide

Who Can Apply?

• Individuals 18+ who live/work in Simcoe County (including PT residents)
• Small businesses (up to 10 FT year round employees) based in Simcoe County or those based outside but have operations in Simcoe County
• Small non-profit organizations and community groups (up to 10 FT year round employees) based in Simcoe County

NOTE: 
*Those based in the City of Barrie and the City of Orillia are eligible to apply with ideas that will be primarily based in and benefit Simcoe County.

Simcoe County Map

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

• Enhances current tourism offerings
• Creates new, high-quality tourism experiences
• Addresses gaps in tourism products and services
• Motivates travel, longer stays and repeat visits
• Increases year-round visitation and tourism spending

​NOTE: 
​*Tourism ideas must be based in and benefit Simcoe County.
*While there are no specific categories, we are especially interested in ideas that incorporate, address and advance sustainable tourism in the region.

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

What Do We Mean By “New / Early Stage / Start Up”?
Tourism experiences, products 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 non-profit organization.
3. What’s your new tourism idea? 
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 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, or non-profit organization, and your new tourism idea. For example, use your smart phone to take the video, and then upload it to a file sharing service (eg. Wetransfer.com, Dropbox, Google Docs) 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 info@tourisminnovation.ca by May 12, 2022 at 11:59pm and include "Simcoe County" in the subject line.

Emails will be sent within 24 hours to confirm receipt of all applications. If you do not receive a confirmation email, send another email or call 1-844-455-0325 toll-free / 416-712-8819 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. Your application will be kept confidential during the review period. All review jury and judge panel decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
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“Spark" Program Info Sessions

Missed our Simcoe County "Spark" Program Info Sessions? Watch this video recording to learn more about the program and how you could be selected to receive $3000 and mentorship to help get you started.

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Be Inspired! Watch this video of one of our past "Spark" winners - Udderly Ridiculous in Oxford County:

​Learn more about the Tourism Innovation Lab

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​- Home Base - 
Tourism Innovation Lab
c/o University of Windsor - EPICentre
​2455 Wyandotte St W, Windsor, ON, Canada N9B 3B3
​​​info@tourisminnovation.ca
1-844-455-0325 toll-free / 416-712-8819

​We respectfully acknowledge that our home base at the University of 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.