Administered by Government of Ontario · Last verified: July 2026
A City of Kitchener grant for downtown property owners and tenants making street-facing facade improvements such as repainting, masonry repair, window replacement, storefront redesign, new signage, awnings, exterior lighting, and accessibility upgrades. The grant pays up to 50% of project costs, up to $10,000 per storefront, with buildings holding multiple storefronts eligible for up to $30,000 and corner buildings up to $20,000. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Review times vary by program, from a few weeks to a few months, so check the official page for its timeline. Grant money is usually paid after you sign a funding agreement, and cost-shared programs often reimburse you once you send proof of what you spent.
Take the 3-minute quiz to find out, and see every other Canadian program you qualify for at the same time.
Check my eligibilityKitchener Downtown Facade Grant is generally open to incorporated, self-employed, partnership businesses, in Ontario, in Retail & E-commerce, Food & Beverage, Professional Services, Other. Confirm the full criteria on the official program page before applying.
The estimated value is 50% of costs, up to $10,000 per storefront ($30,000 multi-storefront, $20,000 corner). The actual amount depends on your eligible costs, the program's budget, and approval.
1. Confirm the property is in the Downtown Community Improvement Area 2. Prepare designs that satisfy the urban design and sign bylaw requirements 3. Apply online through the City of Kitchener facade grant form
50% of costs up to $12,500, plus up to $2,500 for accessibility upgrades and bonuses for multi-unit properties
GRANT50% of costs up to a $20,000 base grant, plus up to $4,000 for accessibility upgrades and more for multi-unit properties
GRANTUp to $200,000 (up to 50% of eligible costs)