Business façade improvement grants now available in Electoral Areas A & B

Rebates of up to $5,000 available for storefront facelifts; Application deadline is April 30, 2024

SLRD Electoral Areas A & B - The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) has secured funding from Northern Development Initiative Trust (NDIT) to provide support to commercial property owners in Electoral Areas A and B to invest in business façade improvements.

The Business Façade Improvement Program provides funding, in the form of rebate grants, to eligible property and business owners located in Electoral Areas A (Upper Bridge River Valley) and B (rural Lillooet) of the SLRD to renovate, restore or redesign commercial building façades and storefronts. The goal of the program is to assist communities within SLRD Areas A and B in creating diversified, resilient and sustainable local economies.

"We are grateful to Northern Development Initiative Trust for this funding program," said Electoral Area A Director, Sal DeMare. "We encourage businesses owners to learn about the program and, if they qualify, to apply for the program."

Through the program, a 50% reimbursement grant up to a maximum of $5,000 per project is available to improve the facades of commercial buildings, including improvements such as new siding, painting, new signage, murals, architectural features, lighting, awnings and patios.

"This NDIT program provides assistance to business owners wanting to improve their storefronts, which benefits the community," added Electoral Area B Director, Vivian Birch-Jones.

Applications for funding support must be received prior to the start of the improvements. The deadline to submit applications to the SLRD is April 30, 2024. After the application deadline, should any funding remain, applications will be accepted and reviewed on a "first come, first served" basis until the annual program budget has been allocated.

To find out more about this program, and to access the guidelines and application form, visit the SLRD website: www.slrd.bc.ca/businessfacadeimprovementprogram.