The Ohio & Erie Canalway Association is now accepting Letters of Intent for its 2026 Strategic Initiatives Program, which supports projects with a focus on conservation and development of natural, recreational, cultural and historical resources throughout the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area. The deadline for submission is February 13, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST to George Ebey at gebey@ohioeriecanal.org. A Letter of Intent is intended to provide the Ohio & Erie Canalway Association with a brief description of your proposed project to assess whether it fits within the eligibility requirements and aligns with the strategic initiatives of the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area prior to accepting full applications.
The Ohio & Erie Canalway Association works with local partners throughout the National Heritage Area in Cuyahoga, Summit, Stark, and Tuscarawas Counties, and a portion of Wayne County. Eligible applicants include State of Ohio political subdivisions, nonprofit organizations, and other persons or projects that fall within the boundaries of the 110-mile Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area. The downloadable Letter of Intent, map of the National Heritage Area, eligibility requirements and previously funded initiatives can be found online at: ohioanderiecanalway.com/learn/strategic-initiatives. Applicants who submit a Letter of Intent may be required to attend an orientation session the week of February 16, 2026.
Through the strategic initiatives program, more than $19 million have been awarded to projects, plans and programs within the Ohio & Erie Canalway National Heritage Area, matched with more than $355 million from private, local, state, and other non-federal funding sources. This has allowed the Ohio & Erie Canalway to contribute to the construction of the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, America’s Byway, visitor services and more throughout the Canalway.
For questions about the program or project proposals, please contact George Ebey, Strategic Initiatives Program Coordinator for the Ohio & Erie Canalway, at 330-374-5657 or gebey@ohioeriecanal.org.
The Ohio & Erie Canalway is a National Heritage Area designated by Congress to help preserve and celebrate the rails, trails, landscapes, towns and sites that grew up along the first 110 miles of the canal that helped Ohio and our nation grow. The The Ohio & Erie Canalway Association operates as a regional extension of its two founding organizations: Canalway Partners, representing Cuyahoga County, and the Ohio & Erie Canalway Coalition, representing the southern three counties of Summit, Stark and Tuscarawas.