Sarnia Building Facade Improvement Grant (CIP)
Sarnia pays back 50% of eligible facade and signage costs, up to $10,000 per building. You must pay upfront and get the city's approval before you start. Applications are open.
“The City will provide a matching grant of 50% of the cost of eligible storefront improvement and facade improvement and restoration works to commercial, institutional and mixed use buildings, up to a maximum grant per building of $10,000.”
From the official program page
Before you spend any money
Get the City of Sarnia's approval before you start work or buy anything. Work started before approval may not be paid for.
At a glance
Subject to program rules, available funding, and approval. Confirm current details with the official program administrator.
Is this for you?
- Your commercial, institutional or mixed-use building is in Downtown Sarnia or Mitton Village
- You are planning exterior facade, storefront, or signage improvements
- You can secure approval before spending any money on the work
Probably not the right fit if
- Your business is located outside Sarnia's specific project areas
- You have already started or completed the improvement work
- You need funding before you begin the project
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.
50% of eligible costs, up to $10,000 per building
What may be supported
- storefront repair/replacement
- masonry repointing
- cornices and awnings
- facade painting/cleaning
- exterior lighting
- signage
- accessibility
- windows and doors
How applying works
Effort: mediumYou apply to the city with quotes and photos of your building, wait for approval, do the work, then claim your costs.
- 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
- You pay for the work first. The city pays back 50%, up to $10,000 per building, after the work is done and inspected.
- Apply and get approved before you start any work or buy anything.
- Only properties in Sarnia's designated areas, Downtown and Mitton Village, qualify. Confirm your address is in the area before you spend.
- Municipal funding is limited each year. Confirm money is still available.
What are your odds?
Many kinds of exterior work count, including storefront repair, masonry repointing, awnings, facade painting, exterior lighting, signage, accessibility work, windows and doors. Check that your building is in Downtown Sarnia or Mitton Village and that the city still has money this year.
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
Ask the City of Sarnia whether you can combine this grant with provincial or federal programs for the same project before you apply.
Related programs
Regional Opportunities Investment Tax Credit
Up to $45,000
Corporations can claim a 10% refundable corporate income tax credit on eligible commercial or industrial building expenditures in designated Ontario…
Checked
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
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.