CaféTO Dining District Grant Program

Applications are currently closed. Subscribe to the BusinessTO newsletter for updates on future rounds of funding.

Overview

The CaféTO Dining District Grant Program provides grant funding to Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), business associations and other not-for-profit organizations for projects aimed at supporting restaurants and bars with expanded outdoor dining opportunities.

Program Objective

Toronto is a city where a world of flavours is always within reach. Its vibrant culinary scene showcases restaurants from various countries, allowing residents and visitors to savor delicious dishes from around the globe. This grant supports Toronto’s diverse culinary and restaurant scene, particularly in areas where outdoor dining is not as common (although not exclusively). The Dining District Grant assists not-for-profits and BIAs in supporting their local restaurants and food service providers through outdoor dining programs or enhancements. The CaféTO Dining District Grant can be used in a variety of ways, whether it is creating new patios in public spaces, a pop-up series, enhancing a public parklet or launching a creative campaign to bring in new diners.

Funding Available

The program has two streams of funding:

  • Stream One: Grants for BIAs to cover one-half of the costs of eligible projects up to a maximum amount of $5,000 (based on a minimum of $10,000 of improvements).
  • Stream Two: Grants for BIAs and not-for-profit organizations to cover the costs of eligible projects up to a maximum amount of $25,000.

Eligibility

Applicants

Eligible Applicants: BIAs

Eligible Projects

Projects are eligible if they support CaféTO related public realm activations and streetscape design work or other related improvements, such as:

  • Installation of public parklets, including temporary platforms, furniture and other material related to public parklets.
  • Plants, soil, watering services and maintenance costs for planters.
  • Customized BIA design plans for individual curb lane café alignments.

Ineligible Projects

How to Apply

Applications are currently closed.

For questions about the CaféTO Dining District Grant Program, please contact cafetogrants@toronto.ca.

Eligibility

Applicants

Eligible Applicants: BIAs, business associations and not-for-profit organizations with working relations with their local business community.

Ineligible Applicants: For-profit businesses including sole proprietorships, partnerships and corporations.

Eligible Projects

CaféTO related public realm activations or temporary activations on private property to support restaurants and bars during the fall and winter months are eligible to apply for funds, such as:

  • Public improvements in the public realm, including;
    • Installation of temporary platforms for public parklets,
    • Outdoor dining related streetscape enhancements.
  • Temporary activations on private property.
  • Innovation program to draw in new diners.

To be eligible for this round of funding, projects must also:

  • Have all expenses incurred by and reported on to City staff by February 16, 2025. Activations can continue to stay in place after the reporting is submitted.

Preference is given to projects that:

  • Enhance planned or existing activations
  • Are focused in areas where CaféTO sidewalk and curb lane cafés are not highly concentrated, particularly in Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke.

Please note, this grant stream is highly competitive and focuses on improving the outdoor dining experience citywide. Proposals are prioritized when they demonstrate creative strategies to enliven outdoor dining areas, along with feasibility assessments, realistic timelines and budgets, and initiatives that make a tangible impact on supporting local businesses and fostering community engagement.

Ineligible Projects

How to Apply

Applications are currently closed.

Subscribe to the BusinessTO newsletter for updates on future rounds of funding.

For questions about the CaféTO Dining District Grant Program, please contact cafetogrants@toronto.ca or Tamara Kahsay at 416-392-8674.

Through the 2024 program, Stream One is supporting 16 BIAs and Stream Two is supporting the eight following projects: PlazaPOPS’s Wexford Heights Dining District Dhabas, Scarborough Food Security Initiative’s Food Hall Outdoor Dining District, The Scadding Court Community Centre’s Market 707 Curb Lane Café, Yonge North York BIA’s Yonge North York BIA Enhanced CaféTO Sidewalk Parklets, Liberty Village BIA’s Discover Liberty Village Patios, Rexdale Community Hub  Rexdale Dining District Initiatives, York-Eglinton BIA’s Little Jamaica Fest Dining District and Greektown BIA’s Innovative Methods to Attract New Diners to Greektown.

These projects include recurring street activations, temporary and permanent pop-up parkettes and initiatives to attract new diners and foster community engagement.