CaféTO Dining District Grant Program

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.

Objective

Toronto is a great city for outdoor dining. This grant supports Toronto’s diverse culinary and restaurant scene, particularly in areas where outdoor dining is not as common (although not exclusively). This grant is available to non-profits and BIAs to support their local restaurants and food service providers through outdoor dining programs or enhancements. The CafeTO Dining District Grant can be used in a variety of ways, whether it is creating new patios in public spaces, 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 non-profit organizations to cover the costs of eligible projects up to a maximum amount of $25,000.

Eligibility

Stream One

Eligible Applicants: BIAs

Apply for funds for projects to 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.

Stream Two

Eligible Applicants: BIAs, business associations and not-for-profit organizations.

Apply for funds for CaféTO related public realm activations or temporary activations on private property to support restaurants and bars, 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

Preference is given to projects focused in areas where CaféTO sidewalk and curb lane cafes are not highly concentrated, particularly in Scarborough, North York and Etobicoke.

Please note that Stream Two of our grant program is highly competitive, focusing on improving the outdoor dining experience citywide. Panellists will prioritize proposals that 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.

How To Apply

Applicants need to clearly demonstrate how the project supports the local main street and either support restaurants with outdoor dining or enhance an existing dining area.

Applications to the CaféTO Dining District Grant Program are accepted until 11:59 p.m. on May 10.

A full list of required documents is listed in the application.

Apply to Stream One

A presentation deck must be included in your application if applying for Stream Two. More details are available in the application.