Growth CIP Facade Improvement Grant
Refresh your North Bay storefront with up to $15,000 in reimbursement for heritage facade and signage upgrades. You pay first, then get reimbursed based on a design score. Applications are open.
How we verify funding records →
“Successful applicants may receive up to 50% funding to a maximum of $15,000.”
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 North Bay's designated downtown area
- You own or manage a heritage-designated building needing exterior updates
- You are ready to get approval before spending any money
Probably not the right fit if
- Your building is not heritage-designated
- You have already started or completed the work
- Your business is outside the North Bay CIP zone
How much you'd realistically get
For example, a storefront refresh — new facade, paint and exterior lighting:
Project cost
$30,000
Program pays
$15,000
You pay
$15,000
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.
Up to 50% of project costs, to a maximum of $15,000 (awarded on a scored scale: 50-59%=$3,000; 60-69%=$6,000; 70-79%=$9,000; 80-89%=$12,000; 90-100%=$15,000)
What may be supported
- Restoration of natural facade materials (brick, stone, masonry, wood)
- Roof and storefront cornices
- Signage within the horizontal signage band
- Fully transparent ground-floor windows and doors (min 50% glass)
- Front-lit signage and secondary entrance lighting
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 signs within the eligible horizontal band, making your business stand out to passing traffic and drawing more customers inside.
- BBN designs your front-lit signage and secondary entrance lighting, creating an inviting after-dark presence that aligns with city heritage guidelines.
- BBN coordinates the restoration of your brick, stone, or wood facade with trusted local trades, preserving heritage character while you manage one project.
- BBN coordinates the repair of your roof cornices and the upgrade to fully transparent ground-floor windows, creating a bright, open feel for your storefront.
- BBN helps you manage the application process and organizes your quotes, guiding you through the steps 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 North Bay'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 North Bay 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.
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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 last week with the official source. Source: official program page.