Closed
Source verified August 2, 2026
Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Tourism support for communities across Canada
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
June 30, 2026
Opened February 3, 2026
Location
New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Canada
Overview
The Canadian Experiences Fund provides $58.5 million over two years to support communities across Canada, including $6 million in Atlantic Canada, for not-for-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, industry associations, and local or Indigenous governments. It supports tourism products, market readiness training, and tourism facilities.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Develop strategic partnerships
- Develop a new product or service
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island
Legal structures
- Non-profit
- For-profit business
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- 2SLGBTQI+
- Canadians
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- All industries
Target groups
- All the groups
Revenue structures
- All structures
Scope
- All dimensions
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Planning and development of tourism products and services, including improving or designing new tourism services and products such as tours, special events and festivals.
- Market readiness training, including working with tourism associations to provide training to businesses to market their products, adopt foreign payment systems, manage cultural differences, etc.
- Creating or improving tourism facilities, including physical assets used by tourists such as trails, campgrounds and shelters.
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Not-for-profit organizations
- For-profit businesses
- Industry associations
- Local governments
- Indigenous governments
Who is not eligible
- Provincial government organizations
- Federal government organizations
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada
Selection criteria
- Project proposals that also meet asset criteria may be given preference.
- Asset criteria pertain to skills development, job creation, economic sustainability and environmental sustainability.
How to apply
- Step 1: Contact the responsible regional agency for information.
- Step 2: Review the program guidance and prepare the application materials.
- Step 3: Submit the application using the applicable form or email process.
Additional information
- The CEF is part of the Government of Canada’s renewed efforts to support the tourism sector, which includes Creating Middle Class Jobs: a Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.
Contacts
Other components of this program
Explore related funding streams and grants that belong to the same program.
- Canadian Experiences Fund - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED)Supports tourism product development, training, and visitor facilities
- Canadian Experiences Fund - Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor)Funding for tourism products and experiences
- Canadian Experiences Fund - Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario)Funding for tourism growth and diversification projects.
- Canadian Experiences Fund - Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario (FedNor)Funding for tourism development in Northern Ontario
- Canadian Experiences Fund - Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)Supports tourism projects and regional tourism development.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) Program
What is the Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)?
The Canadian Experiences Fund provides $58.5 million over two years to support communities across Canada, including $6 million in Atlantic Canada, for not-for-profit organizations, for-profit businesses, industry associations, and local or Indigenous governments. It supports tourism products, market readiness training, and tourism facilities.
What is the deadline to apply?
The application deadline for this grant program was June 30, 2026.
Who is eligible for the Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) program?
To be eligible for the Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) program, you must:
The project must support the growth and diversification of the tourism sector.
What expenses are eligible under Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)?
Planning and development of tourism products and services, including improving or designing new tourism services and products such as tours, special events and festivals.
Market readiness training, including working with tourism associations to provide training to businesses to market their products, adopt foreign payment systems, manage cultural differences, etc.
Creating or improving tourism facilities, including physical assets used by tourists such as trails, campgrounds and shelters.
Who can I contact for more information about the Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)?
You can contact Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED) by email at ACOA.information.APECA@canada.ca.
Where is the Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) available?
The Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) program is available the province of New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island.
Is the Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Canadian Experiences Fund - Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is a Grant and Funding