Grants available for events, projects along canal system

Provided photo: Officials at Stewart Park in Ithaca cut the ribbon for new interpretive signs that tell the story of the city's waterway history. Funding support for the signs came from a NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Amenity Grant.

Press Release, NYS Canal Corporation and Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

WATERFORD – The New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor are offering competitive grant funding to support tourism and recreation along the New York State Canal System including canal waterways and Canalway Trail.

The 2024 program will support tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements, and events. Applications are open now through February 23, 2024.

The grant program includes two funding categories: Event Support, with an award range of $500 to $3,000, and Tourism Infrastructure & Amenity Support, with an award range of $5,000 to $24,000. Applicants may apply for one or both categories.

Interested applicants are invited to attend a virtual information session on Jan. 25 at 10 a.m.

Funding is open to counties, municipalities, units of local government, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes located within the National Heritage Corridor. Applications for infrastructure projects located on land owned by the New York State Canal Corporation are open only to federal/state/local governments, unless a nonprofit applicant is currently named as a permittee on an existing Canal Corporation Use and Occupancy Permit.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “Each year, as more visitors come to New York’s canalside communities for outdoor recreational activities, the Canal Corporation looks for ways to enhance and improve their experiences. The Tourism Infrastructure and Events Grant program allows us to do just that.  Working with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor, we are financing bright ideas from municipalities and stakeholders throughout the Canal corridor. We look forward to bolstering local economies by supporting this new round of upgrades and improvements.”

In 2023, 37 nonprofit organizations and municipalities received NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants totaling $190,000. The grants supported seven tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements and 34 events that drew 86,500 people to the canals.

 “We are pleased to offer another year of tourism investment in the Canalway Corridor. Supporting communities in their efforts to improve recreational amenities and infrastructure and host events is a key component to a thriving and vibrant waterway,” said Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

For details, Q&A registration, and online application, visit: www.eriecanalway.org/resources/grants/