Applications Now Open for 2026 NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Events Grants

WATERFORD, NY – The New York State Canal Corporation and the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor are offering competitive grant funding to support tourism, recreation, and events along the New York State Canal System including canal waterways and Canalway Trail. Applications are open now through November 21, 2025.

2026 Grants Program

The 2026 grants program will prioritize projects and events that are accessible to all community members, with a particular focus on addressing service and amenity gaps. Funding is open to counties, municipalities, units of local government, nonprofit organizations and federally recognized Native American tribes located within the Canalway Corridor.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “This grant program helps to bring even more people to our canals to connect with history and all that they offer. Supporting the many entities that engage with New York’s canals is one way that we can continue ensuring these vibrant waterways endure as we enter our third century of operation.”

Accessibility for projects and events

Two virtual workshops held in September provided strategies for applicants to improve accessibility for their projects and events. Recordings are available online, and applicants are encouraged to incorporate the recommended strategies in their application.

Bob Radliff, Executive Director of the Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor said, “On the heels of the Erie Canal’s Bicentennial, we are looking forward to supporting projects and events that will continue this historic waterway’s legacy into the next century and beyond.”

In 2025, 45 nonprofit organizations and municipalities received NYS Canal System Tourism Infrastructure and Event Grants totaling $255,000.

The grants supported twelve tourism infrastructure and amenity improvements and 36 events. For details and to apply, visit: www.eriecanalway.org/resources/grants/

ABOUT NEW YORK STATE CANAL CORPORATION

The New York State Canal Corporation, a subsidiary of the New York Power Authority, oversees the operation and promotion of the New York State Canal System. The Canal Corporation’s mission is to operate and maintain a premier waterway and trail system that honors the historic legacy of the Erie Canal and offers unique recreational and tourism opportunities, while also promoting sustainable economic development throughout the canal corridor. For more information on the New York State Canal System and the Canal Corporation, please visit www.canals.ny.gov.

ABOUT THE ERIE CANALWAY NATIONAL HERITAGE CORRIDOR

Nearly 200 years after its construction, the Erie Canal remains an iconic symbol of American ingenuity and determination. The Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor works to preserve the Nation’s extraordinary canal heritage, promote the Corridor as a world-class tourism destination, and foster vibrant communities connected by more than 500 miles of waterway. It achieves its mission in partnership with the National Park Service, New York State agencies, nonprofit organizations, local residents, and more than 200 communities across the full expanse of upstate New York. Visit www.eriecanalway.org.