Program Launched to Spark and Support New Black-Led Tourism Ideas in Ontario’s Southwest and Hamilton Halton Brant

Hamilton, ON – An expanded second edition of the Black Tourism “Spark” Mentorships & Grants Program was officially launched at the Ontario Tourism Summit in Hamilton on October 22nd, 2024. The initiative aims to spark and support new Black-led tourism ideas and businesses in Ontario’s Southwest and Hamilton Halton Brant regions.

The Black Tourism “Spark” Program pairs selected applicants with mentors, provides $3,000 in seed funding, and $2,000 in tech adoption support to help bring their tourism ideas to life. This is the first program of its kind in Canada, focusing on supporting new Black-led tourism initiatives.

First-round Black Tourism “Spark” Program winners include:

• COOK-UP Inc. – hosting new culinary tourism experiences in Windsor
• W.E. Ride & Dine – offering Black history, culture & food tours in Windsor Essex
• London Artisan Connection – launched the inaugural Carnival London this past July, and planning a bigger festival in 2025

The Black Tourism “Spark” Program is a collaborative initiative co-developed and delivered by a diverse group of organizations and individuals, including the Tourism Innovation Lab, Ontario’s Southwest Regional Tourism Organization, Hamilton Halton Brant Regional Tourism Organization, Empowerment Squared through the Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Network (SWOBEN), WETechAlliance, and Black tourism entrepreneurs and working group members from across the region, and with funding support from the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario.