CaféTO Grant

Applications are open until June 4 or until all grant funding has been exhausted.

 

The CaféTO Grant (formerly called CaféTO Property Improvement Program) is available to owners and tenants of commercial and industrial properties in Toronto to improve the appearance and/or function of their curb lane cafés, commercial patios and sidewalk cafés.

Objective

Small retail businesses are essential to the vitality and success of Toronto’s main streets and neighbourhoods, and key drivers of economic prosperity for residents, families, communities and the city as a whole.

Funding Available

The grants covers one-half of the costs of eligible property or site improvements up to a maximum amount of $5,000 (based on a minimum of $10,000 of improvements). Funding can include patio improvements on private property and spaces on public property for which a valid permit has been issued.

Additional grant funding of up to $2,500 is available for exterior accessibility improvements such as the installation of temporary platforms level to the sidewalk for a curb lane café (rented, leased, or purchased), accessible ramps for patios on private property, handrails and other exterior accessibility devices which meet Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) design standards.

Architectural, engineering from a certified Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) specialist and Building Code Identification Number (BCIN) registered designer fees may be covered to a maximum of $1,000 per application.

Eligibility

The grant is available to owners and tenants of street-level commercial and industrial properties in Toronto to improve the appearance and/or function of exterior spaces associated with the property. Places of worship, institutional buildings, and residential buildings are ineligible for the program.

Eligible Projects

The CaféTO Grant is available to owners and tenants of commercial and industrial properties within the City of Toronto for property improvements such as:

  • Permanent improvements to patio or café spaces on private property that serve a business use excluding furnishings
  • Café spaces on City property for which a valid permit has been issued
  • Permanent on-site boulevard landscaping features (excluding plant material)
  • Fencing
  • Installation of temporary platform level to the sidewalk for a curb lane café (rented, leased, or purchased), accessible ramps for patios on private property, handrails and other exterior accessibility improvements which meet AODA design standards

Only one property application from a business chain or a franchise chain will be considered under this program.

Ineligible Projects

The intent of the grant is to improve the appearance and/or function of exterior spaces associated with commercial or industrial properties. The following are examples of ineligible projects:

  • Maintenance costs of existing property elements, such as lighting and broken windows
  • Repairs to signs, remove or cleaning of bird droppings from signs, replacement of dead trees and other landscaping vegetation or replace chipped driveway pavers, etc.
  • Applications for work totaling less than $2,000
  • Projects at places of worship, institutional buildings, not-for-profit commercial buildings and residential buildings
  • Past recipients of the CaféTO Property Improvement Program that were awarded the maximum grant allowance

How to Apply

Applications are now being accepted until June 4 or until all the grant funding has been exhausted.

Apply for a CaféTO Grant