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Downtown Victoria Business Facade Improvement Grant
The Downtown Victoria Business Association pays back up to $5,000 for exterior facade work in downtown Victoria: siding, paint, lighting, awnings and landscaping. The grant may be limited to heritage buildings, so confirm with the DVBA that your building qualifies. This is a cost-share grant, so you pay first and get reimbursed after approval and inspection. The program is waitlisted now, so confirm availability before you plan. Applications are closed right now and we watch for reopening.
“Façade Grants are currently being waitlisted.”
From the official program page
Before you spend any money
Get the DVBA's approval 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 DVBA boundaries in Victoria
- You are planning exterior facade improvements: siding, paint, lighting, awnings, landscaping, bird deterrents or professional exterior cleaning
- You can secure approval before starting any work or purchasing materials
Probably not the right fit if
- Your building is not heritage-designated (confirm with the DVBA whether this rule applies to you)
- You have already started or completed the work
- Your business is outside the Downtown Victoria Business Association boundaries
How much you'd realistically get
50% of costs to a maximum of $5,000 per business
What may be supported
- exterior surface treatments (siding, moulding, trim, paint)
- exterior lighting
- awnings
- permanent landscaping
- bird deterrents
- exterior cleaning
How applying works
Effort: mediumContact the DVBA to join the waitlist. When they accept your application, include 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 the DVBA's written pre-approval 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.
- Get approved before you start any work or buy anything. Work started before approval may not qualify.
- Your property must be inside the Downtown Victoria Business Association boundaries. Confirm your address before you spend.
- Grants are currently waitlisted. Contact the DVBA to get in the queue before planning your project.
- Funding is limited each year. Confirm money is still available.
What are your odds?
Grants are waitlisted now. Contact the DVBA to join the waitlist, and do not start work until you are approved.
More funding by what it pays for
Funding for Accessibility
Grants for ramps, doors and washrooms may help pay for accessibility improvements.
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.
What you can combine it with
You may be able to combine this with provincial or federal programs for the same project. Confirm with the DVBA 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.