Deadline: 6 January 2025
The Tourism Innovation Lab is inviting applications for its Boundary Country Spark Program to match selected applicants with a mentor and provide seed funds to help bring their tourism ideas to life.
The goal is to inspire Boundary Country entrepreneurs, small businesses, non-profits, and community groups to come forward with creative ideas that will spark new tourism offerings, experiences and collaborations in the area.
Benefits
- Selected applicants will receive:
- Three (3) month mentorship with a tourism innovator, experienced operator, industry leader and/or sector expert (mentors are not pre-selected; matches are tailored to the mentee’s focus areas)
- 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 their “Spark” community of tourism innovators, idea makers, partners, and supporters for special networking events, one-on-one’s, and development workshops.
Funding Information
- $3,000 in seed funds to support tourism idea development activities.
What are they Looking For?
- New tourism ideas for the Boundary Country that would address one or more of the following:
- Enhance current tourism offerings
- Create high-quality, low impact tourism experiences
- Address gaps in tourism products and services
- Motivate travel, longer stays and repeat visits
- Increase shoulder season visits and tourism spending
- Accessible tourism ideas, that are safe and accessible to all, regardless of physical or cognitive abilities
- Regenerative tourism experiences that allow visitors to connect with the destination while contributing to the health of the community
- Preference will be given to applications that demonstrate how the idea supports economic, social, and/or environmental sustainability
- Tourism ideas must be based in and benefit the Boundary Country, including Area ‘C’/Christina Lake, Area ‘D’/Rural Grand Forks, Area ‘E’/West Boundary, Area ‘E’/Big White, Grand Forks, Midway and Greenwood
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be based in the Boundary Country and be one of the following:
- Individuals 18+; OR
- A small business (new or existing), with fewer than 10 full-time year-round employees, OR
- A nonprofit organization, Indigenous community or other community group, with fewer than 10 full-time year-round employees.
For more information, visit Tourism Innovation Lab.
