BBN Labs — Better Business Network

Downtown Whitby & Brooklin CIP Facade Improvement Grant

Accepting applicationsCost-shareChecked

Refresh your storefront with 50% back: up to $10,000 in Whitby's Historic Priority Area, $7,500 elsewhere downtown, or $5,000 in Brooklin (multi-storefront properties up to $30,000). You pay first and are reimbursed after inspection. Applications are open.

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At a glance

Maximum supportDowntown Whitby: Facade Improvement Grant of 50% of costs up to maximum of $10,000 (Properties within Historic Priority Area) or 50% of costs up to maximum of $7,500 (Properties outside of the Historic Priority Area); multiple street addresses/storefronts/commercial units: 50% of costs up to maximum of $30,000 (within) or $22,500 (outside). Sign Grant: 50% of costs up to a maximum of $2,000. Downtown Brooklin: one-time Facade Improvement Grant of 50% or up to a maximum of $5,000.
Issued byTown of Whitby
RegionOntario
Pre-approvalRequired before starting
Matching fundsYes, business contributes

Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.

Not sure if you qualify?

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Is this for you?

  • You own or operate a business in the designated Whitby or Brooklin CIP areas
  • You are planning exterior facade or sign improvements to a commercial property in the mapped CIP area
  • You can secure approval from the city before starting any work or spending money

Probably not the right fit if

  • You have already started or completed the renovation work
  • Your business address is outside the specific Whitby or Brooklin CIP zones

How much you'd realistically get

Whitby: 50% up to $10,000 (Historic Priority Area) or $7,500 (outside it); multi-storefront properties up to $30,000/$22,500. Brooklin: 50% up to $5,000. Sign Grant: 50% up to $2,000.

What may be supported

  • Exterior facade / appearance improvements
  • Structural quality improvements (Brooklin)
  • Signage maintenance, restoration and new signage with associated lighting (Sign Grant)
  • Professional facade and signage design fees (Design Grant)
  • Eligible interior improvements to heritage buildings (Interior Heritage Building Grant)

How applying works

Effort: mediumA city application with quotes/photos; approval before you start, then claim after completion.

  1. 01Confirm your property is in the program area and funds are available
  2. 02Get the city's written pre-approval BEFORE starting
  3. 03Complete the approved work
  4. 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 new storefront signs and coordinates qualified partners for installation and lighting upgrades to make your business stand out on the street.
  • BBN creates professional facade improvement plans and coordinates the exterior renovation trades so you get a modern look while the grant covers half the cost.
  • BBN guides you through the application process and tracks 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 (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 Whitby's designated CIP/BIA zone — confirm your address qualifies before you spend.
  • Often requires a heritage-designated/listed building (most ordinary storefronts won't qualify) — check first.
  • 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 Whitby 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

Open, apply anytimeGrant

Starter Company Plus

Up to $5,000

Starter Company Plus pairs a grant of up to $5,000 with hands-on training and one-on-one guidance from your local Small Business Enterprise Centre.

Checked yesterday

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.

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Record last updated ; last verified yesterday with the official source. Source: official program page.