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.
“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 any money
Get the Town's approval before you start work or buy anything. Work started before approval is usually not eligible.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Is this for you?
- You run a business in Fort Erie's designated improvement zone
- You are planning exterior facade or signage improvements
- You can secure approval before starting any work
Probably not the right fit if
- Your property is outside Fort Erie or its Community Improvement Plan 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: mediumYou apply to the Town with quotes and photos, get approval before you start, then claim the grant after the work is done.
- 01Confirm your property is in the program area and funds are available
- 02Get the Town's written approval before you start
- 03Complete the approved work
- 04Submit your costs for reimbursement
Documents commonly required
- Quotes/estimates for the work
- Photos of the current storefront
- Proof of property ownership or owner's consent
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. Work started early is usually not eligible.
- Only properties inside Fort Erie's Community Improvement Plan area qualify. Confirm your address qualifies before you spend any money.
- Municipal funding is limited each year. Confirm money is still available.
What are your odds?
The Town's funding is limited each year, so apply early. If your property is in the Community Improvement Plan area, the main risk is starting work before you are approved.
More funding by what it pays for
Funding for Storefront Signage
Grants and loans that may help pay for new storefront signage.
Funding for Storefronts and Facades
Grants and loans that may help pay for storefront and facade work.
Funding for Accessibility
Grants for ramps, doors and washrooms may help pay for accessibility improvements.
What you can combine it with
This grant may combine with provincial or federal programs for the same project. Ask the Town and each program office what can be combined.
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.
Page last updated ; status and deadline checked . Source: official program page.