Event Grant Application

Experience Waterloo, on behalf of the City of Waterloo, is accepting grant requests for event-related projects that will have a positive impact on the tourism industry in Waterloo from January 1, 2026-June 30, 2026

The hotel-motel tax grants have been established to reach the following goals:

  1. Recognize and support events that have a significant economic impact on Waterloo. (35% of total score)
  2. Support organizations and activities that strengthen the perception of Waterloo. (35% of total score)
  3. Make impactful events possible with financial support from this process. (30% of total score)

Overall scores may be increased when an application demonstrates the following:

  • New events or events that have significant changes from prior year’s event.

** Grants meeting either of the above criteria will have scores increased by 10pts for each category **

Applications should specifically show how the event brings visitors to Waterloo, both for this event, and in the longterm. Grants aren’t intended to provide long-term or operational support but are intended to support marketing and event efforts that help advance the above goals.

FY 2026 Grants For Events January 1, 2026 thru June 30, 2026

Applications Open September 4, 2025 thru October 5, 2025

EVENT GRANT RULES fy26

Get a head start on your application

Before you begin, use this practice form to gather all the information you'll need for the official application. This will help make the online process quick and easy.
Grant Form Application Outline

Empowering Ideas, Enabling Change