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Corporate Information

NYS Canal System Grants

Making good things happen along the canals.

Tourism Infrastructure & Event Grants

The New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor offer competitive grant funding to support tourism and recreation along the New York State Canal System (Canal waterways and Canalway Trail).

The program provides funding to support tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements, and events. Grant funding is open to counties, municipalities, units of local government, not-for-profit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes.

2026 Grant Recipients

Introducing the 2026 recipients of the New York State Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants.

View Recipients

Tourism Infrastructure Support

Award Range: $5,000 to $24,000

About Tourism Infrastructure Support

Event Support

Award Range: $500 to $3,000
Review Requirements for Event Grant Winners

About Event Support

NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure & Events Grant Program

Program Overview

Annual competitive program offering about $160,000 for smaller Canal-related infrastructure needs and events. Administered and funded in collaboration with the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.

Deadline and Decisions
  • Application Open Oct 13, 2026
  • Applications Due Nov 3, 2026
  • Awards Announced Feb 20, 2027
Eligibility Criteria
  • Must facilitate recreation and/or tourism to make experience more accessible for all ages and abilities, and expand audiences served.
  • Improve the visitor experience and encourage overnight stays.
  • Commemorate canals heritage or culture.
  • Improve and/or promote connectivity between recreation areas and communities or between waterways and land trails.
  • Funding is open to counties, municipalities, units of local government, not-for-profit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes located within the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor.
Event Support Requirements

If you receive an Event Grant, here are the Grant Requirements.

Contact

For details contact:

Ashley Quimby-Simoni
518-237-7000, ext 202
Ashley_Quimby-Simoni@partner.nps.gov



Recent Grant Success Stories

NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure & Events Grants

TRAID ON THE TRAILS, THE JOE FAMILY FOUNDATION $3,000

Participants try adaptive equipment while connecting with others in the inclusive recreation community. A pop-up adaptive sport/recreation session in conjunction with Syracuse Parks paves the way for the main TRAID on the Trails Day, a festival-style inclusive recreation celebration with live music, adaptive equipment and more.

ROC RIVER RIDE, ROTARY CLUB OF ROCHESTER $3,000

City of Rochester residents and youth explore Rochester’s history and natural beauty on a bicycle ride along the scenic Erie Canalway and Genesee Riverway trails. Experienced riders guide cyclists to stops that showcase local art, history and culture.

POOLSBROOK ACCESSIBLE HAND LAUNCH SITE, TOWN OF MANLIUS DEWITT $24,000

Installation of the first accessible hand launch dock within the Old Erie Canal State Historic Park, providing paddling opportunities to people of all abilities.

CLUTE PARK ACCESSIBILITY IMPROVEMENTS, VILLAGE OF WATKINS GLEN $20,000

Improvement of an accessible one-mile loop trail in the park including the installation of a sculpture garden and raised garden beds along the trail for people of all abilities to enjoy.

Canalway Grant Program

The Canalway Grant Program, uses the Consolidated Funding Application (CFA), to support Canal-related projects across the NYS Canal System.

About the Canalway Grant Program