Community groups and businesses in Port Alberni and the surrounding Alberni Valley can now apply for a new micro-grant aimed at drawing more visitors to the area. The Alberni Valley Tourism Association has opened its first-ever 2026 Events & Experiences Micro-Grant Fund, with a total of $10,000 available this year.
The program offers up to $2,500 per successful applicant to help cover marketing that reaches potential visitors from outside the region. The money comes from the hotel tax collected by the province and handed to destination marketing groups like Alberni Valley Tourism. Organizers have until September 2 to apply, but only if funds are still left after earlier rounds.
The tourism association hopes the grants will help make the Alberni Valley a place where people want to stay overnight rather than just a stop on their way to Tofino or Ucluelet. Priority will go to events held in the quieter fall, winter, and spring months to spread out visitor numbers beyond the peak summer season. Applicants are also encouraged to build sustainable practices into their plans and to work with the Tseshaht and Hupacasath First Nations on whose traditional territory the events take place.
Eligible applicants include tourism-related businesses, non-profit organizations, and Indigenous groups within the Alberni Valley Regional District. Full program details and application forms are available through the tourism association. Jaimey Broekman, Tourism Development Specialist, is the main contact for questions and can be reached at [email protected] or (250) 720-1206.
The new grant comes at a time when the region is still feeling the effects of a tough 2025 summer. Wildfires and funding cuts led to a rough year for local tourism, with the Port Alberni Visitor Centre recording just 4,502 visitors compared to 9,400 the year before. Alberni Valley Tourism is looking for creative ideas that will help turn those numbers around and build a steadier flow of visitors year-round.
