Looking west down main street in Deseronto cars are parked along the street.

BUSINESS RESOURCES

LAST UPDATED JANUARY 20TH, 2021.

Small businesses impacted by the provincial shutdown can apply for an Ontario Small Business Support Grant.

The grant provides businesses with funding up to a maximum of $20,000 to help cover decreased revenue if they have experienced a drop of at least 20 percent when comparing monthly revenue in April 2019 and April 2020.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/businesses-get-help-covid-19-costs -open webpage

The Safe Travels Stamp is an internationally recognized stamp to show that your business has implemented health and hygiene protocols that are aligned with WTTC (World Travel & Tourism Council)  Global Safe Travels Protocols to welcome travelers safely. ⁠

The Great Waterway, our regional tourism organization is encouraging local businesses to be certified as safe for travel.

Please use this link to engage with the program - open webpage

Application form - open a web form

rto9 header a man and a woman having a coffee in a coffee shop

RTO 9 - partnership funding

Each year, RTO 9 works hand-in-hand with tourism partners to enhance experiential tourism across the South Eastern Ontario region. RTO 9’s Partnership Fund is designed to forge strong and diverse partnerships that either build on existing tourism products or introduce new tourism products. These projects serve to enhance the region’s diversity of offerings to create a competitive advantage in tourism experiences throughout the South Eastern Ontario region.

Definition of ‘Partnership’

The partnership is defined as the agreement of RTO 9 to work with one or more entities on a specific project in support of RTO 9’s Business Plan for the current year.

Partners who are awarded funding through the Partnership Funding program receive more than money to help reach their project goals.  RTO 9 provides guidance in partnership building, experiential tourism development, and digital marketing designed to utilize partner synergies and drive tourists to the region.

Who is eligible to apply?

Partnership Funding for 2021-2022 is intended solely for tourism businesses interested in undertaking tourism-related initiatives that increase visitation to the South Eastern Ontario region. All applications will close on Saturday, March 20th, 2021.

Register for the "All You Ever Wanted to Know About Partnership Funds" information webinar on March 1st, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm or March 11th, 9:00 am - 10:00 am. Please reach out to Lori McIsaac, Director of Experiential Tourism Development to register lmcisaac@region9tourism.ca.