Downtown Tomorrow CIP Facade Improvement Grant
Get reimbursed for up to 50% of eligible facade costs, capped at $5,000 per property (plus up to $2,000 for heritage buildings) in Orillia. This is a matching grant, so you pay first and get paid back after inspection. Applications are open.
How we verify funding records →
“Any eligible property owner or tenant within the Downtown Tomorrow Community Improvement Planning project area may apply for the DTCIP Programs, except the Residential Grant Program which is eligible only to property owners.”
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 operate a business in Orillia's designated downtown improvement zone
- You are planning exterior facade or storefront upgrades — masonry, windows, painting, lighting or accessibility work
- You can secure approval before starting any work or purchasing materials
Probably not the right fit if
- You want funding for interior renovations or work unrelated to the building's exterior facade
- You have already started or completed the renovation work
- Your property is outside the specific Orillia CIP zone
How much you'd realistically get
For example, a storefront refresh — new facade, paint and exterior lighting:
Project cost
$10,000
Program pays
$5,000
You pay
$5,000
That's the program's maximum — a bigger project works, and the amount above the cap is yours to fund.
That's work we build. Price my project like this →
Illustration using this program's published rate and cap; amounts and eligibility are decided by the program.
50% of eligible costs, to a maximum of $5,000 per property (plus up to an additional $2,000 per property for buildings designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act)
What may be supported
- Repair/replacement of storefront, office, institutional or residential facades (doors, windows)
- Masonry repair and repointing
- Barrier-free accessibility entrance modifications
- Facade painting, cleaning, treatments and refinishing
- Exterior and storefront display lighting
- Landscaping (max 15% of grant) and architectural/design fees (max 10% of 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 your storefront refresh and coordinates qualified partners for doors, windows, and masonry repairs to boost curb appeal.
- BBN plans barrier-free entrances and exterior lighting upgrades with trusted trades to make your store safer and brighter.
- Starting work before approval voids the grant. BBN helps you manage the steps to avoid costly mistakes.
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 — starting early disqualifies most of these.
- Area-gated to Orillia's designated CIP/BIA zone — confirm your address qualifies before you spend.
- Heritage-designated buildings (Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act) can claim up to an extra $2,000 on top of the base $5,000 — it's a bonus, not a requirement.
- 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 Orillia address qualifies and you apply before starting.
Related BBN services
Accessibility Improvements
Accessible websites, clear signage, and ramps or entrance work handled by licensed trades.
Storefront & Facade Improvements
Facade refresh concepts, visualizations and contractor coordination, scoped the way municipal improvement programs expect.
Storefront Signs & Sign Boards
Sign concepts, mockups and measurements done right. Fabrication and installation quoted and managed for you.
Tourism & Hospitality Digitization
Booking-ready websites, multilingual visitor info, itineraries, kiosks and media for operators and attractions.
What you can combine it with
May combine with provincial/federal programs for the same project — we'll check what stacks.
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.