Downtown Revitalization Incentives Program

The Façade Improvement Grant provides a financial incentive to make improvements to the exteriors or ‘façades’ of eligible buildings. Improvements may include new cladding or architectural features, reconfigured entrances, new window and doors, lighting, signage, weather protection and upgrades to improve accessibility. Improvements are focused on façades that face towards the street; however, other façades may be eligible. A pre-application meeting is strongly encouraged.

Funding

• a 50 per cent matching reimbursement grant
• up to $75,000 per building for comprehensives projects (Comprehensive Façade Improvement Grant), or
• up to $25,000 per building for simple projects (Simple Façade Improvement Grant)

Eligibility

• Eligible buildings: commercial, institutional, mixed-use and apartment buildings.
  • Government buildings are not eligible, although exceptions may be made for commercial-portions.
  • Home businesses and home occupations are not eligible.
  • Number of design elements:
    • Comprehensive projects: minimum of 4
    • Simple projects: one or more
    • Applicants must differentiate improvements from flood-related restoration or remediation.
    • Buildings that received a façade grant in Phase 1 (2020) are not eligible to apply under Phase 2.

Learn more by downloading the Program Guidelines for the Façade Grant.

For each application you may also need to fill out a Letter of Authorization form.

Download the application form.

The Interior Improvements Grant provides a financial incentive to ­­­­upgrade the interiors of existing eligible buildings. Renovations will help improve the downtown’s aging building stock, attract new businesses to vacant spaces and retain existing tenants. A pre-application meeting is strongly encouraged.

Funding

• a 50 per cent matching reimbursement grant
• up to $50,000 per building. In multi-tenant or use buildings, a further $50,000 may be allocated for different spaces not previously improved under Phase 1. 

Eligibility

• Eligible buildings: commercial, institutional and mixed-use (commercial portions only).
  • Government buildings are not eligible, although exceptions may be made for commercial-portions.
  • Home businesses and home occupations are not eligible.
  • Eligible projects:
    • Reconfiguration of an existing unit
    • Accessibility upgrades
    • Fire safety upgrades
    • Electrical, HVAC and plumbing upgrades
    • Energy efficiency upgrades
    • General improvements, including flooring, painting, drywalling, millwork and cabinetry (if permanent).
    • Costs associated with finishing the space, include appliances, furniture, displays and other movable objectives are not eligible.
    • Applicants must differentiate improvements from flood-related restoration or remediation.
    • Buildings that received an interior grant in Phase 1 (2020) are not eligible to apply under Phase 2. However, in multi-unit buildings, units or common spaces not previously improved under Phase 1 may be eligible.   

Learn more by downloading the Program Guidelines for the Interior Grant.

For each application you may also need to fill out a Letter of Authorization form.

Download the application form.

The Beautification Projects and Murals Grant supports business owners and property owners in making visual enhancements to increase downtown vibrancy. The Grant encourages the following projects:

• Beautification (storefront) improvements, which includes window displays, planters and holiday lighting to increase curb appeal.
• Murals by local artists.

A pre-application meeting is strongly encouraged.

Funding

Funding for beautification projects:

• a 50% matching reimbursement grant
• up to $1,500 per eligible building or business in an eligible building (businesses must have a ground-level storefront).

Funding for murals projects:

• a 75% reimbursement grant
• up to $30,000 per eligible building for murals by a local artist 

Eligibility

• Eligible buildings: commercial, institutional and mixed-use (commercial portions only).
  • Government buildings are not eligible, although exceptions may be made for commercial portions.
  • Home businesses and home occupations are not eligible.
  • Beautification projects must:
    • Help create attractive storefronts
    • Visible to the public and intended for their enjoyment
    • Mural projects must be:
      • Completed by a local artist
      • Located on the building exterior
      • Visible to the public and intended for their enjoyment
      • Contain no logos, advertising or offensive content

Learn more by downloading the Program Guidelines for the Beautifications and Murals Grant.

For each application you may also need to fill out a Letter of Authorization form.

Download the application form for beautification projects.

Download the application form for mural projects.

The Patio Grant provides funding to assist downtown businesses with the development of a new or improved patio. Patios must be an outdoor extension of a food establishment, such as a restaurant or café, and be open to the public. Patios can help create attractive, lively and pedestrian-friendly downtown streets. The Patio Grant encourages businesses to utilize underused, privately-owned space or municipal land, where feasible and safe.

Patios should be permanent or operated seasonally on municipal land (i.e., on-street or sidewalk patios). Studies suggest that outdoor dining areas and patios may boost revenues by as much as 30 per cent. Patios are intended to enhance the aesthetic qualities of private buildings and property to improve the character and quality of the downtown. Therefore, patios constructed with construction fencing, tarping and similar materials will not be supported as permanent improvements or as acceptable materials for seasonal sidewalk and on-street patios. Outdoor dining may also help mitigate the impact of COVID-19.

To support businesses, the program has introduced the following changes in Phase 2:

• require only a single contractor estimate for all patio projects,
• consider the cost of patio materials purchased on/after April 1, 2021 (at the applicant’s risk), and
• include new eligible costs, such as seasonal or modular structures (e.g., tents, greenhouses and bubbles).

Applicants are responsible for following current public health regulations and obtaining all necessary permits for their patio improvements and structures.

A pre-application meeting is strongly encouraged.

Funding

• A 75% reimbursement grant
• Each eligible building may receive up to $15,000 in grants for patios. The grant could be used by a single applicant or shared by several applicants in that building.

Eligibility

• In the case of government buildings (municipal, provincial, federal), be a ground-level commercial space.
• Home businesses or occupations are not eligible.

The patio project must:

• Serve an existing or proposed ground-level restaurant, café, food establishment or similar use (the grant is not intended to fund private patios, amenity areas and decks).
• Be open to the public.
• Be located adjacent to the establishment it will serve.
• Meet design, layout and safety standards (required for patios on municipal land – see page 10).

Learn more by downloading the Program Guidelines for the Patio Grant.

For each application you may also need to fill out a Letter of Authorization form.

Download the application form for patio grants.

The Premises Improvement Grant supports business owners and property owners in making improvements to their properties or premises areas. A premise is the area of the property excluding building footprints. The Grant encourages the following projects:

• Parking lot improvements, including repaving/resurfacing, improved connectivity and accessibility improvements.
• Drainage, grading and erosion-related improvements.
• New amenities, including bicycle racks and benches.

A pre-application meeting is strongly encouraged.

Funding

• a 50% matching reimbursement grant
• up to $40,000 per premises area that services an eligible building type.
• grant value depends on premise area (see the Program Guidelines for more details).

Eligibility

• Eligible premises are those that serve an existing commercial, apartments, institutional and mixed-use (commercial portions only).
  • Government buildings are not eligible.
  • Home businesses and home occupations are not eligible.
  • Eligible projects are described in the Program Guidelines.
  • Work that is required as a condition of a development permit issued after January 1, 2016, is not eligible.
  • Work that is associated with landscaping securities being held by the Municipality is not eligible.

Learn more by downloading the Program Guidelines for the Premises Grant.

For each application you may also need to fill out a Letter of Authorization form.

Download the application form.

The following table provides the grants being offered in Phase 2, including their amounts and allocation. With the exception of the Patio and the Murals Grant, grants are offered as 50 per cent matching reimbursement grants up to the maximum amount specified. The Patio grant and the Murals grant which are offered at 75 per cent.

The Municipality consulted with the public and the results supported to continue the Downtown Revitalization Incentives Program. We also recognize that while not everyone was in a position to participate in the 2020 Program (i.e., general timing of program launch, finances, waiting on insurance, etc.), there is a growing interest for applications under the DRIP - Phase 2.

• March 31, 2022 – Closing date for applications.
• Construction must be completed within 12 months of entering into an executed agreement with the Municipality.

The agreement sets out the applicant’s responsibilities and the terms and conditions for receiving the grant. It is signed by both the applicant and the Municipality. Once signed by both parties, work on the grant funded project may begin. 

Yes, but there are limitations. Applicants that received a grant in 2020 (Phase 1) will be unable to request additional reimbursement for their project or make further applications for work that is already subject to an executed agreement. For example, applicants who spent $300,000 on renovations may not request further reimbursement or submit another application that includes any portion of this work.

In some instances, a building that received a certain grant may not be able to apply for the same grant again:

• Façade Improvement Grant – Buildings that received this grant in 2020 may not apply for another façade grant in Phase 2.
• Interior Improvements Grant –
  • Single occupancy buildings that received this grant in 2020 may not apply in in Phase 2.
  • In multi-tenant buildings, a new application may be submitted for a different space/unit not previously improved through Phase 1.
• Patio Grant – A different food establishment may apply. Phase 1 patio recipients are ineligible to apply again.

Yes. Applicants may apply for more than one grant type, subject to additional eligibility requirements for each grant. For example, a building owner may apply to upgrade their façade, complete interior renovations and make exterior improvements. Separate applications must be submitted for each grant being requested.

Yes. If you are not the property owner (the person(s) or organization listed on the land title), you will need to include a letter of permission from the property owner(s) with your application. The Application Form includes a Letter of Authorization for the property owner to complete.

The grants are generally offered as 50 per cent matching reimbursement grant. A “matching” grant means that the Municipality will pay for half of the eligible costs (to the maximum allowed by each grant). A “reimbursement” grant means that applicants receive funding after their projects are complete and verified by the Municipality.

As per Council’s motion on April 13, 2021, the Patio Grant and the Murals Grant will be offered as a 75 per cent reimbursement grant. All other grants are offered at a rate of 50 percent.

No. Administration explored this option and it was determined to be not possible for following reasons:

• Administration does not have the resources (i.e., staffing) to offer phased payments, which requires review of period invoices and potential inspections.
• Providing upfront grants remains a risk that projects will not be completed, as approved.

No. Applications will only be accepted for new projects. Work and expenses incurred before the applicant enters into an agreement with the Municipality are not eligible. Exceptions have been made for professional fees necessary to prepare an application or obtain permits, if incurred no earlier than June 29, 2020. To allow patio applicants to get a head start on their projects, patio materials purchased no earlier than April 1, 2021 will be eligible for reimbursement. This also applies to businesses who apply for the Beautification Grant, for items such as planters. Any costs incurred prior to being approved for the program are at the applicant’s risk. 

Yes, professional fees are eligible for reimbursement to a maximum of 15 percent of the total project cost (eligible materials and labour), before GST.

While the program is intended to spur downtown revitalization, expenses pertaining to the restoration of damage caused by the recent flooding will not be eligible. Assistance is available through the Government of Alberta’s Disaster Recovery Program. Once restoration work is complete, the Municipality encourages applicants wishing to make improvements under the Downtown Revitalization Incentives Program to apply.

Yes. Depending on the project, municipal permits may be required. Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the Municipality to obtain advice on permitting and municipal requirements prior to applying for a grant. Permits must be obtained prior to starting construction. 

Your project may require:

• Business License
• Development Permits
• Building Permits
• Trades Permits (e.g., electrical, plumbing, ventilation)
• Permission to occupy municipal lands (License of Occupation, Utility Installation & Street Occupancy Permit)
• Permission to construct a structure above municipal land (Encroachment Agreement)

Patio developments may also require a Food Handling Permit from Alberta Health Services (AHS), and a Liquor License from the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC).