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.
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.
The program has two streams of funding:
Eligible Applicants: BIAs
Projects are eligible if they support CaféTO related public realm activations and streetscape design work or other related improvements, such as:
Applications are currently closed.
For questions about the CaféTO Dining District Grant Program, please contact cafetogrants@toronto.ca.
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.
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:
To be eligible for this round of funding, projects must also:
Preference is given to projects that:
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.
Eligible applicants are encouraged to apply early because applications are considered on a first in, first reviewed basis.
Subject to funding availability, the deadline to apply is Friday, November 22 or until funds are fully expended, whichever comes first.
For questions about the CaféTO Dining District Grant Program, please contact cafetogrants@toronto.ca or Tamara Kahsay at 416-392-8674.
Register for the virtual information session to learn more about the application process:
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.