ERIE CANALWAY HERITAGE FUND INC logo

Tourism Infrastructure & Amenity Support

ERIE CANALWAY HERITAGE FUND INC

Foundation Annual Recreation GrantsGrants for Disabled
Apply Now

Funding Amount

$5,000 - $24,000

Deadline

November 21, 2026

227 days left

Grant Type

foundation

Overview

Tourism Infrastructure & Amenity Support

Funder: New York State Canal Corporation and Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor

Geographic Scope: Erie Canalway Corridor (500+ miles of waterway and Canalway Trail in New York State)

Focus Areas:

  • Tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements

  • Projects that facilitate recreation and/or tourism

  • Enhancements to visitor amenities and experience

  • Encouragement of overnight stays

  • Commemoration of canal history, heritage, or culture

  • Accessibility improvements for people with and without disabilities

  • Expansion of audiences served

  • Connectivity improvements between recreation areas, communities, waterways, and land trails

    • Eligibility:

  • Counties

  • Municipalities

  • Units of local government

  • Not-for-profit organizations

  • Federally recognized Native American nations

    • 2026 Program Priorities:

  • Accessibility for all community members

  • Addressing service and amenity gaps

    • Program Objectives:
    Projects should demonstrate how they will achieve one or more of the following:

  • Facilitate recreation and/or tourism

  • Enhance visitor amenities and/or improve visitor experience

  • Encourage overnight stays

  • Commemorate the history, heritage, or culture of the canals

  • Make recreational and tourism assets more accessible for people with and without disabilities

  • Expand audiences served

  • Improve and/or promote connectivity between recreation areas and communities or between waterways and land trails

    • 2026 Timeline:

  • Applications Opened: October 14, 2025

  • Applications Closed: November 21, 2025

  • Awards Announced: February 2026

    • Contact:
    Mary Abbruzzese, Program Manager
    Phone: 518-237-7000, ext. 201
    Email: Mary_Abbruzzese@eriecanalway.org

    Resources Available:

  • Canal Recreationway Plan 2050

  • ECNHC Preservation and Management Plan

  • 2025 Amenities Study

  • NYS Canal Corporation Branding and Amenity Design Standards

  • Canal Design Standards

  • Signage Guidelines

  • Hand-Launch Facility Design Guide

  • Universal Design Guidelines and best practices

    • How to Apply

    Application Process

    2026 Applications Now Closed

    Check back in the fall for 2027 project and event support applications.

    Submission Instructions:
    1. Review the Program Guide for complete guidance
    2. Applications are submitted online
    3. Note: You cannot save applications in progress
    4. Recommendation: Complete answers in a Word document first, then copy into online form

    Required Materials:

  • Completed online application form

  • Project budget (using provided budget form)

  • Documentation of matching funds (if applicable)

  • Supporting documentation as relevant

    • Resources:

  • Program Guide (available on website)

  • Design standards and guidelines

  • Accessibility workshop recordings available

    • Support Available:

  • Two virtual workshops hosted in 2025 on accessibility

  • Recordings available for 2026 Events and Tourism Infrastructure accessibility workshops

  • Technical assistance available via email

    • Apply with Grantable Learn more

    Focus Areas & Funding Uses

    Fields of Work

    recreationdisabled

    Categories

    Browse similar grants by category

    Recreation GrantsGrants for Disabled

    Related Grants

    Similar grants from this funder and related organizations

    Foundation

    Community Change Grants

    Amount

    Varies (examples include $1,500 grants)

    Deadline

    Rolling / Open

    Annual
    Foundation

    Building Recreational Infrastructure for Communities, Kids, and Seniors Grant (NY BRICKS) (NY)

    New York State Dormitory Authority

    Amount

    US $250,000 - US $15,000,000

    Deadline

    Rolling / Open

    Foundation

    Implementation Grant Program

    Amount

    Varies by project (historically $5,000 - $150,000+)

    Deadline

    Rolling / Open

    Annual
    Foundation

    Community Grants

    Amount

    Varies by project (recent grants ranged from approximately $1,000 to $25,000+)

    Deadline

    Rolling / Open

    Annual
    Foundation

    Park Grants Program

    Amount

    Up to $50,000

    Deadline

    September 30, 2026

    Semi-annual
    Foundation

    ACL Music Festival Grants

    Amount

    Varies

    Deadline

    Rolling / Open

    Ready to apply for Tourism Infrastructure & Amenity Support?

    Grantable helps you assess fit, draft narratives, and track deadlines — so you can submit stronger applications, faster.

    Apply with Grantable Learn more