Tourism businesses and organizations across Northumberland County and the Kawarthas region can now apply for support through Regional Tourism Organization 8’s 2026 27 Partnership Funding Program.
The program is designed to help tourism operators build capacity, enhance visitor experiences and grow the regional visitor economy. RTO8 represents the tourism region that includes Northumberland County, Kawartha Lakes, the City of Peterborough and Peterborough County.
Under the program, visitors are defined as travellers who journey more than 40 kilometres one way to spend money in a community where they neither live nor work. The initiative aims to support projects that encourage those visitors to explore the region and contribute to local tourism spending.
Eligible applicants include established for profit tourism businesses that hold a valid CRA business number and the required operating permits. First Nations tourism businesses that are majority Indigenous owned and controlled within the region are also eligible.
Destination marketing organizations, tourism groups and municipalities may apply as well, provided the project delivers clear benefits to tourism operators.
The program is not structured as a traditional grant or ongoing annual funding stream. Instead, funding is tied to specific tourism projects designed to strengthen the regional tourism sector.
To qualify, approved projects must begin after May 18, 2026 and be completed by March 15, 2027.
There will be only one intake for the program this year. Applications must be submitted by Monday, April 6, 2026.
Further details about eligibility requirements and the application process are available through Regional Tourism Organization 8.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)