Historic Downtown Newmarket CIP: Facade Improvement & Restoration Program
The town pays back up to $15,000 for facade work, and also offers an interest-free facade loan up to $100,000. Ask the town whether you can use both. The grant is cost-share, so you pay first and get reimbursed after approval and inspection. Applications are open.
Before you spend any money
Get the town's approval BEFORE you start work or buy anything. Costs from work started before approval may not be covered.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Is this for you?
- You own or lease a property in the Historic Downtown Newmarket CIP area
- You are planning facade, signage, interior, or accessibility improvements
- You can secure approval before spending any money on the work
Probably not the right fit if
- You have already started or completed the renovation work
- Your business is located outside the designated 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.
Illustration using this program's published rate and cap; amounts and eligibility are decided by the program.
Facade grant: 50% up to $15,000/property ($20,000 for corner & laneway properties). Interest-free facade loan up to $100,000. Also Business Sign, Interior Renovation, Accessibility and Feasibility Study programs.
What may be supported
- Redesign of storefronts and rear elevations
- Restoration of original facade appearance
- Exterior building facade improvements (front, rear and side)
- Business signage (Business Sign Program)
- Interior renovations (Interior Renovation & Improvement Program)
- Accessibility enhancements (Accessibility Enhancement Program)
- Feasibility/design studies (Project Feasibility Study Program, 50% up to $10,000)
How applying works
Effort: mediumApply to the town with quotes and photos. Get approval before you start, then claim your costs after the work is done.
- 01Confirm your property is in the program area and funds are available
- 02Get the town'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.
- Apply and get approved BEFORE you start any work or buy anything. Work started before approval may not qualify.
- Only properties in the Historic Downtown Newmarket Community Improvement Plan (CIP) area qualify. Confirm your address qualifies before you spend.
- The program is aimed at heritage properties, so check with the town that your building qualifies.
- Municipal funding is limited each year. Confirm money is still available.
What are your odds?
Your property must be in the Historic Downtown Newmarket CIP area, and you need the town's approval before work starts. Town funds are limited each year, so ask early.
More funding by what it pays for
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.
Funding for Storefront Signage
Grants and loans that may help pay for new storefront signage.
Funding for Tourism
Grants and loans that may help pay for visitor marketing and online booking.
What you can combine it with
You may be able to combine this with provincial or federal programs for the same project. Ask the town whether you can combine this grant with other programs.
Related programs
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.