Commercial Facade Improvement Grant
Get up to $40,000 plus $2,000 for signage to refresh your Fort Erie storefront. This is a city grant that reimburses you after the work is done and inspected. Applications are open.
How we verify funding records →
“Grants of up to $40,000 from the Town of Fort Erie can be applied for to improve the front facing exterior of a commercial or core mixed-use property.”
From the official program page
Before you spend a dollar
Get the city's approval BEFORE you start work or buy anything — starting early is the #1 way owners lose this funding.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Not sure if you qualify?
Get a free, 2-minute read on whether this program fits your business. No obligation.
Check your fit →Is this for you?
- You run a business in Fort Erie's designated improvement zone
- You are planning exterior facade or signage upgrades
- You can secure approval before starting any work
Probably not the right fit if
- You are located outside Fort Erie or its CIP area
- You have already started or finished the project
How much you'd realistically get
Up to $40,000 (Commercial Facade Improvement Grant); plus a separate Commercial Facade Signage Grant up to $2,000
What may be supported
- Front-facing exterior facade improvements (commercial/core mixed-use)
- Business signage improvements (up to $2,000)
- Creation of up to 4 new residential units (related CIP grant)
How applying works
Effort: mediumA city application with quotes/photos; approval before you start, then claim after completion.
- 01Confirm your property is in the program area and funds are available
- 02Get the city's written pre-approval BEFORE starting
- 03Complete the approved work
- 04Submit your costs for reimbursement
Before you apply
Your application will likely need written quotes
Programs like this usually ask for written estimates for the work before they approve anything, and some require as many as three. BBN Labs works with you on this: we prepare a quote for the work this program funds — scope, costs and timelines you can put straight into your application. Free, no obligation.
Get my quote for this program →Documents commonly required
- Quotes/estimates for the work
- Photos of the current storefront
- Proof of property ownership or owner's consent
How BBN Labs helps
- BBN designs eye-catching signage to boost curb appeal, coordinating with qualified partners for fabrication so your storefront stands out and draws more customers.
- BBN coordinates exterior facade upgrades like painting or lighting by managing qualified trades, giving you a polished, professional look without the headache of hiring contractors.
- BBN guides you through the application process and organizes required documentation to meet deadlines so you don't lose the funding.
What to know before you count on it
- Cost-share: you pay for the work first, then you're reimbursed after it's done and inspected.
- Apply and get approved BEFORE you start any work or buy anything — starting early disqualifies most of these.
- Area-gated to Fort Erie's designated CIP/BIA zone — confirm your address qualifies before you spend.
- Municipal funding is limited each year — confirm money is still available.
What are your odds?
Area-gated and funding-limited, but a straightforward fit if your Fort Erie address qualifies and you apply before starting.
Related BBN services
Storefront Signs & Sign Boards
Sign concepts, mockups and measurements done right. Fabrication and installation quoted and managed for you.
Storefront & Facade Improvements
Facade refresh concepts, visualizations and contractor coordination, scoped the way municipal improvement programs expect.
Accessibility Improvements
Accessible websites, clear signage, and ramps or entrance work handled by licensed trades.
What you can combine it with
May combine with provincial/federal programs for the same project — we'll check what stacks.
Related programs
Worth reading before you apply
Get alerted when this changes
Programs open and close, budgets run out, rules change. We send one short email when something changes that matters for this program.
Record last updated ; last verified 6 days ago with the official source. Source: official program page.