Main streets are the heart of Toronto’s neighbourhoods, places where people connect, local culture thrives and small to medium businesses create jobs and generate more than $41 billion annually in revenue. Supporting the resiliency of Toronto’s main streets is essential to keeping these communities vibrant, welcoming and positioned for long-term success.
To assist small to medium-sized commercial businesses and main streets in Toronto, the Government of Canada, through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), has provided $4 million to run the Toronto Economic Resiliency Initiative.
The Toronto Economic Resiliency Initiative grants below aim to support unique needs of Toronto’s main streets and businesses.
The Transit Construction Mitigation Fund offers funding to Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and not-for-profit organizations with ties to main streets for community-driven initiatives that mitigate the impacts of multi-year transit construction on local businesses.
The fund offers grants of up to $100,000.
Applications are currently closed. Learn more.
The Commercial Space Renovation Grant Program offers matching funding of 50 per cent to commercial business operators and owners of storefronts that are vacant (or, in certain limited circumstances, at risk of becoming vacant) to undertake interior improvements, assisting businesses to re-lease space impacted by COVID-19. Improvements to meet health regulations and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliance are also included.
Expenses eligible for funding include structural upgrades, interior light fixtures, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), plumbing, electrical, interior painting, flooring/ceiling/walls, permanently-affixed counters, merchandise displays and accessibility improvements, among others.
The maximum grant available is $20,000. Further funding of up to $4,000, for a total maximum grant of $24,000, is available for upgrades to meet accessibility standards. Additional funding of $20,000 ($4,000 per additional unit, for up to five units) is available for multi-unit properties.
Applications are currently closed. Learn more.
The Dining District Program offers Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), business associations and not-for-profit organizations funding to create, enhance and promote outdoor dining spaces and experiences.
The grant offers funding of up to $100,000.
Applications are currently closed. Learn more.
The Community Economic Development Fund offers BIAs and not-for-profit organizations funding to create high-impact projects that foster community-led inclusive economic development and community wealth building strategies. The projects include those that support neighborhoods facing ongoing or historical disruption, displacement and under-resourcing and especially those that offer transformative and long-lasting benefits for neighbourhoods.
The fund offers funding of up to $300,000.
Applications are currently closed.
