Downtown St. John's Facade Improvement Program
Downtown St. John's pays back up to $3,000 ($4,000 for corner properties) for approved exterior work, matched by your own money. You pay for the work first. Applications are open.
“The program can provide a reimbursement of up to $3000.00 per approved site , contingent upon matching dollars from the applicant, towards the costs of eligible renovations.”
From the official program page
Before you spend any money
Get approval from Downtown St. John's before you start work or buy anything. If you start early, you can lose this funding.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Is this for you?
- You operate a storefront business within the St. John's BIA zone
- You are planning exterior improvements like painting, restoration, or new signage
- You can secure approval before spending any money on the project
Probably not the right fit if
- You are located outside the designated St. John's BIA area
- You have already started or completed the work without prior approval
How much you'd realistically get
Reimbursement up to $3,000 per site ($4,000 for a corner property), matching the applicant's dollars
What may be supported
- design consultant fees
- exterior finish restoration and repainting
- architecturally-integrated signage
- storefront window/door repair
- exterior lighting
How applying works
Effort: mediumSend Downtown St. John's an application with quotes and photos. Get approval before you start, then claim your costs when the work is done.
- 01Confirm your property is in the program area and funds are available
- 02Get written pre-approval from Downtown St. John's before starting
- 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 (about half) after it's done and inspected.
- Apply and get approved before you start any work or buy anything. Work started before approval may not qualify.
- Only properties in the Downtown St. John's Business Improvement Area qualify. Confirm your address is inside it before you spend.
- Funding is limited each year. Confirm money is still available.
What are your odds?
Applications are open. Your property must be in the Downtown St. John's area, you must match the grant with your own money, and your project must be approved before work starts.
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
You may be able to combine this with provincial or federal programs for the same project. Confirm with Downtown St. John's before you apply.
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.