Experience Simcoe County Partnership Fund
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2026 EXPERIENCE SIMCOE COUNTY PARTNERSHIP FUND RECIPIENTS!
The County of Simcoe has approved 54 successful applications totalling $400,370 through the 2026 Experience Simcoe County Partnership Fund.
All applicants will be informed of the results of their application via email by Tourism Simcoe County staff.
Information about the 2027 program will be posted to this page in December.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Experience Simcoe County Partnership Fund aims to support and enhance tourism across Simcoe County by:
- Investing in initiatives that increase awareness and appreciation of, and access to, Simcoe County’s diverse tourism, cultural, and recreation offerings.
- Fostering partnerships and collaboration among tourism stakeholders, municipalities, and organizations to strengthen the regional tourism ecosystem.
- Supporting innovative, inclusive, and accessible programming that improves the quality and appeal of visitor experiences.
- Contributing to the County’s overall economic health by stimulating tourism-related spending and promoting Simcoe County as a desirable destination.
- Aligning funded projects with the Experience Simcoe County work plan and strategic priorities, including destination marketing, product development, and workforce development.
- Enhancing tourism experiences that promote accessibility, inclusivity, and engagement for older adults, fostering social connection, active living, and lifelong learning within the community.
This $400,000 fund is available to municipal corporations and not-for-profit organizations with a stated mandate and/or projects with a primary objective that is tourism-focused and/or culture-driven with a focus on attracting visitors to the region. The initiative must take place in at least one of the County of Simcoe’s 16 member municipalities.
FUNDING STREAMS
This stream provides funding to support marketing efforts for tourism, culture and recreation including festivals and special events. A maximum of $10,000 can be requested through this stream. No more than $5,000 will be awarded for video development and no more than $2,500 will be awarded for photography development.
Eligible items include:
- digital advertising campaigns;
- social media advertising campaigns;
- radio advertising;
- television advertising;
- influencer or blogger engagement;
- professional photography and video development; and
- graphic design costs associated with the items noted above.
This stream provides funding to support the enhancement and activation of vibrant downtowns to enhance the visitor experience. A maximum of $10,000 can be requested through this stream.
Eligible items include:
- downtown beautification and greenspace enhancements;
- public art creation, installation, and rehabilitation;
- murals;
- interpretive signage; and
- artists’ fees and materials.
This stream provides funding to support the fabrication and installation of permanent tourism-oriented signage in accordance with Regional Tourism Organization 7 (RTO7) specifications. A maximum of $20,000 can be requested through this stream.
Eligible items include:
- vehicular or pedestrian wayfinding signage;
- trailhead and trail signage;
- interpretive and educational signage; and
- community header signage.
This stream provides funding to support the fabrication and installation of trails and cycling infrastructure. All cycling infrastructure must adhere to Cycle Simcoe design and branding specifications. A maximum of $10,000 can be requested through this stream.
Eligible items include:
- bike racks;
- bike repair stations;
- e-bike charging stations;
- water refill stations;
- benches;
- trail gates; and
- installation costs associated with the items noted above.
This stream provides funding to support the hosting of programs that engage and/or educate tourism, culture, or recreation operators that in turn will enhance the overall visitor experience. A maximum of $10,000 can be requested through this stream.
Eligible items include:
- items that would increase exposure, reach, value, desirability, or attractiveness of a workforce development industry event;
- speaker fees;
- venue fees;
- fees associated with hosting a familiarization tour; and
- honorariums for Indigenous Elders/Knowledge Holders.
Resources for 2026 Program
- 2026 Experience Simcoe County Partnership Fund Recipients
- 2026 Program & Application Overview
- Request for Addition of New Vendor Form ***save a copy to your computer prior to completing and submitting***
- Download the Experience Simcoe County Logo Suite
- Download the Cycle Simcoe Logo Suite
- Download the RTO7 Signage Specifications
- Final Report Template ***save a copy to your computer prior to completing and submitting***
Resources for 2025 Program
- 2025 TCS Enhancement Fund Guidelines
- Request for Addition of New Vendor Form
- Press Release
- 2025 Funding Recipients
- Final Report
Staff Contact
Darcy Brooke-Bisschop
Stakeholder Relations Coordinator
