Kitchener Facade Grant Program
Downtown Kitchener businesses can get up to $10,000 back for facade and signage improvements. You pay first, then the city reimburses up to 50% after inspection. Applications are open.
“Eligible downtown property owners and merchants/business owners are eligible to receive grants of up to $10,000 per street address or storefront.”
From the official program page
Before you spend any money
Get the city's approval before you start work or buy anything. Work started before approval usually does not qualify.
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 in downtown Kitchener's Community Improvement Plan (CIP) area or Business Improvement Area (BIA)
- You are planning exterior facade, storefront, or signage improvements
- You can secure approval before starting any work or purchasing materials
Probably not the right fit if
- Your business is outside Kitchener, or outside the downtown Community Improvement Plan (CIP) area or Business Improvement Area (BIA)
- You have already started or completed the improvement work
- You cannot wait for reimbursement since you must pay for the work upfront
How much you'd realistically get
For example, a storefront refresh (new facade, paint and exterior lighting):
Project cost
$20,000
Program pays
$10,000
You pay
$10,000
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.
Up to 50%, max $10,000 per storefront
What may be supported
- repainting/cleaning/re-facing
- masonry/brick/wood repair
- windows
- storefront redesign
- signage
- canopies & awnings
- exterior lighting
- accessibility
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
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 the city reimburses its share (about half) after it's done and inspected.
- Apply and get approved before you start any work or buy anything. Work started early usually does not qualify.
- Only properties in the Downtown Kitchener Community Improvement Area qualify. Confirm your address qualifies before you spend.
- Municipal funding is limited each year. Confirm money is still available.
What are your odds?
Your property must be in the Downtown Kitchener Community Improvement Area, and city funding is limited each year. Apply early and wait for approval before you start work.
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 City of Kitchener how other funding affects your grant.
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.