St. Catharines Facade Improvement Program
The City of St. Catharines pays back up to 50% of facade costs, to a maximum of $10,000 per building facade. You pay first, then the city pays its share after inspection. Heritage-designated properties can also apply for a separate designated-property grant of up to $5,000 a year. Applications are open.
“The Façade Improvement Program (FIP) grant is up to 50 per cent of the project costs to a maximum of $10,000 per building façade.”
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 may 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 run a commercial business in St. Catharines' Community Improvement Plan (CIP) area
- You plan exterior facade, storefront, or signage improvements
- You can get approval before starting any work or buying materials
Probably not the right fit if
- Your building sits outside St. Catharines' Community Improvement Plan area, or is residential-only
- You have already started or finished the work before getting approval
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% of project costs, max $10,000 per building façade.
What may be supported
- Facade work that qualifies under the Facade Improvement Program
- Heritage restoration work
How applying works
Effort: mediumYou apply to the city with quotes and photos, get approval before you start, then claim the city's share after the work is done and inspected.
- 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 after the work is done and inspected.
- Apply and get approved before you start any work or buy anything. Work started early may not qualify.
- Open to commercial buildings in St. Catharines' Community Improvement Plan (CIP) area. Confirm your address qualifies before you spend.
- Municipal funding is limited each year. Confirm money is still available.
What are your odds?
City funding is limited each year, so apply early. Your commercial building must be in the Community Improvement Plan area, and work must not start before approval.
More funding by what it pays for
Funding for Storefront Signage
Grants and loans that may help pay for new storefront signage.
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.
What you can combine it with
You may be able to combine this grant with provincial or federal programs for the same project. Ask the City of St. Catharines and any other program office whether this grant can be combined with their funding.
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.