Good Afternoon BIA Members,

 

I wanted to let you know about two different funding opportunities that are currently available to you as business owners and to those of you who are property owners.

 

The first is the City of Toronto's Facade Improvement Grant. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2024 but please note that approvals for this funding are done on a first come first served basis so the quicker you apply the better.  

 

The second opportunity is the My Main Street Grant.  I was in a meeting this morning with the Federal Minister for Economic Development and the team from the Canadian Urban Institute who provided an overview of the My Main Street grant.  This grant has been around in previous years but this is the first year that it is open to Toronto businesses.  The Business Sustainability Grant offers up to $20,000 to an independent business owner to help you grow your business.  Please note: this is a grant which means you do NOT have to match the funds or repay the funds!  Below is the link to the My Main Street website but I have also attached 2 pdfs which you can review to see what this grant is about and what the application form requires.  I find when applying for grants it's always easier to see what is expected in the application before I'm well into the on-line application and need to log out in order to get required information.  Applications are being accepted until March 31, 2024.

 

Here are the links etc. for both grants:

 

 

Eligibility

An applicant must be the property owner or a commercial tenant that has the permission of the property owner.

Eligibility improvements include, but are not limited to, masonry, brick cleaning and restoration, new doors, new windows, outdoor decorative or security lighting, outdoor entrance tiling, installation of canopies or awnings, repair of cornice, parapets and other architectural features, outdoor wall mounted signs and exterior painting as part of the eligible improvements.

Wheelchair accessibility ramping, accessible railings and accessible door openers that meet Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) standards are also eligible.

A minimum of three eligible improvements are required for an application.

Ineligibility

The following types of improvements are not eligible for the Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program:

• Roof signs or stand-alone ground mounted signs
• New or Upgraded Roof
• Painting of brick or stucco, unless the existing brick or stucco is already painted prior to submitting the application
• New stucco work
• Door and window banners
• Door and window decals
• Maintenance work to repair broken windows, remove vectors (birds, animals and insects) from signs or lighting fixtures, replace light bulbs and tubes from lighting fixtures, and paint touch-ups of cracking or faded façade surfaces.

Applications are disqualified if:

• Any of the proposed improvements are completed or underway, before approval of the proposed improvements by the City
• The subject property received the maximum façade improvement grant in the previous ten years
• The building has a place of worship use, a public institutional use, a not-for-profit use or a residential use without street level commercial uses.

Funding

Half of the costs of eligible improvements is covered up to a maximum $12,500 grant for $25,000 worth of improvements. The minimum grant is $2,500 for $5,000 worth of improvements.

Additional funding of half of the costs of accessibility AODA upgrade improvements up to a maximum $2,500 grant for $5,000 worth of improvements.

For multiunit commercial properties, $2,500 per additional unit up to five units totalling a maximum bonus grant of $12,500.

How to Apply

Eligible applicants may apply by completing the online application below. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2024, or until all available funds are depleted.

Apply Online

For questions about the Commercial Façade Improvement Grant Program, please contact Michael Saunders at 416-392-1005 or  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .