St. Catharines Facade Improvement Program
Refresh your storefront in St. Catharines with up to 50% reimbursement, max $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.
How we verify funding records →
“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 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 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.
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, max $10,000 per building façade.
What may be supported
- all FIP-eligible facade work
- plus heritage restoration
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 refresh (colours, materials, and detailing) and coordinates qualified partners for the facade work.
- BBN coordinates qualified partners for your facade improvements and keeps the work on schedule so you don't miss the program's deadlines.
- BBN helps you manage the approval and co-funding steps so you avoid costly mistakes that void this St. Catharines funding.
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 — starting early disqualifies most of these.
- 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?
Area-gated and funding-limited, but a straightforward fit if your St. Catharines 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.
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.
Record last updated ; last verified 6 days ago with the official source. Source: official program page.