Corner Store Grants – Small Business Support Grant
The Corner Store Grant program provides matching reimbursement for exterior and interior renovations to property owners in Neighbourhood Commercial Areas.
Offered by Business Support (City of Edmonton)
Amount
Exterior: up to 50% of eligible construction costs, maximum $20,000 to $90,000 per building based on storefront linear footage, and a maximum of $120,000 per commercial site; Interior: up to 50% of eligible construction costs, maximum $20,000 per contiguous commercial site
Quick eligibility check
Who can apply
Target Areas The grant is available to property owners (or their approved representatives) for Commercial Buildings in Neighbourhood Commercial Areas in mature and established (redeveloping) neighbourhoods of the City within the boundaries of the Anthony Henday Freeway.
Neighbourhood Commercial Areas refers to small-scale commercial zones designed primarily to serve the immediate needs of the surrounding residential community. These areas were originally developed as community-oriented amenities, offering accessible goods, services, or social spaces to nearby residents. They typically consist of locally focused businesses and are distinct from large commercial corridors, regional shopping malls, or retail commons, which cater to broader markets and larger geographic areas. Neighbourhood Commercial Areas are integral to fostering walkable, vibrant, and community-centered environments.
Eligible Projects
In order to be eligible for consideration for an Exterior Commercial Renovation Grant, applicants,
projects, and buildings must meet all of the following requirements:
- Must be Commercial Buildings in strip malls or mini-malls with ground-level commercial
units, or groups of standalone Commercial Buildings with ground-level commercial units.
- Applicants must be the building owner(s) or that person’s designate.
- The project must be in a Target Area.
- The project must relate to a commercial Building with commercial Use on the main floor.
- The building owner must be current (not in arrears) on municipal property tax payments.
- The building owner must not be in default of any of their obligations under any other
municipal program or agreement made with the City.
- The building owner must not be in litigation with the City over this or any other matter(s).
- The Building Age must be at least 20 years old.
- Construction work done before a signed Reimbursement Grant Agreement is in place
between the applicant and the City is not reimbursable.
- The project must involve eligible exterior improvements and meet program design principles
as outlined in this Program Guide.
- Applicants must meet any additional requirements set out in this Program Guide.
Target Areas The grant is available to property owners (or their approved representatives) for Commercial Buildings in Neighbourhood Commercial Areas in mature and established (redeveloping) neighbourhoods within the boundaries of the Anthony Henday Freeway.
Neighbourhood Commercial Areas refers to small-scale commercial zones designed primarily to serve the immediate needs of the surrounding residential community. These areas were originally developed as community-oriented amenities, offering accessible goods, services or social spaces to nearby residents. They typically consist of locally focused businesses and are distinct from large commercial corridors, regional shopping malls or retail commons, which cater to broader markets and larger geographic areas. Neighbourhood Commercial Areas are integral to fostering walkable, vibrant and community-centered environments.
Eligible Projects
In order to be eligible for consideration for an Interior Commercial Renovation Grant, applicants,
projects and buildings must meet all of the following requirements:
- Must be a commercial building in a strip mall or mini-mall with ground-level commercial
units, or a group of standalone Commercial Buildings with ground-level commercial units.
- The project must relate to a Commercial Building with Commercial Use on the main floor.
- The building must have a vacant commercial interior space for at least six months, a
chronically vacant space with at least three or more business licences to one address within three years, or has been underused for a period of at least three years prior to application.
- At the end of the project, the property must have a two-year minimum lease with a business
tenant.
- The building must have clear, unobstructed street-level windows once construction is
complete and for the duration of the subsequent five-year maintenance period.
- The following are not permitted: window tints, vinyl wraps, tinted or frosted glass, large
window decals and window perforations that obscure views in or out of the building.
- Typically, security bars or rolling shutters are not permitted over windows or doors
once construction is complete and for the five-year maintenance period. The use of shatterproof clear glass or security films on windows is encouraged instead.
- Applicants must be the building owner(s) or the owner’s designate.
- The project must be in a Target Area.
- The building owner must be current (not in arrears) on municipal property tax payments.
- The building owner must not be in default of any of their obligations under any other
municipal program or agreement made with the City.
- The building owner must not be in litigation with the City over this or any other matter(s).
- The building’s age must be at least 20 years old.
- Construction work done before a signed Interior Commercial Renovation Grant
Reimbursement Agreement is in place between the applicant and the City is not reimbursable.
- The project must involve eligible interior improvements and meet program design principles
as outlined in this Program Guide.
- Applicants must meet any additional requirements set out in this Program Guide.
About the funding
There are multiple grants, with varying grant amounts, available for eligible commercial properties.
Corner Store Exterior Grant
Exterior Commercial Renovation Grant
A reimbursement grant of up to 50 percent (50%) of eligible construction costs for exterior improvements to active storefronts. Grant amounts per building are based on linear footage of existing storefronts or future storefront linear footage achieved through renovation.
Show all funding details
- Linear footage of customer facing storefront and facade up to 100 feet: maximum grant amount of $20,000 per building and a maximum of $120,000 per commercial site.
- Linear footage of customer facing storefront and facade between 101 and 200 feet: maximum grant amount of $40,000 per building and a maximum of $120,000 per commercial site.
- Linear footage of customer facing storefront and facade between 201 feet and 699 feet: maximum grant amount of $60,000 per building and a maximum grant amount of $120,000 per commercial site.
- Linear footage of customer facing storefront and facade between 700 feet and 999 feet: maximum grant amount of $90,000 per building and a maximum grant amount of $120,000 per commercial site.
Note: initial grant eligibility is determined by the existing linear footage of the customer facing storefront and facade. Projects involving the addition of new storefronts, which did not previously exist, may be eligible for supplemental grant funding (up to the maximums indicated above) based on the planned, increased linear footage.
Corner Store Interior Grant
Interior Commercial Renovation Grant
A reimbursement grant of up to 50 per cent (50%) of eligible construction costs for interior improvements to vacant or underutilized active storefronts.
- A maximum grant amount of $20,000 per contiguous commercial site, regardless of land title or lot divisions.
Eligible Improvements Eligible projects require at least three improvements from the list below. Applications will be competitively evaluated, with priority given to those demonstrating the most comprehensive building enhancements. Below is a list of the eligible improvements:
- Facade Renovation: updating the building's outer layer with new materials like brick veneer,
metal cladding, modern composite panels, paint, brick restoration, etc.
- Windows: installing energy efficient windows to improve insulation and enhance the
building's aesthetic.
- Doors: replacing or adding old doors with modern, secure, and energy efficient ones,
including automatic doors for accessibility.
- Building entrance redesign: modernizing the main entrances to create a more welcoming
impression.
- Awnings or canopies: adding or replacing awnings or canopies for shade and weather
protection.
- Signage upgrades: installing new, modern, energy efficient signage to enhance aesthetic
and visibility.
- Exterior lighting: adding or upgrading exterior lighting for safety, energy efficiency and
aesthetic purposes.
- Accessibility features: upgrading or adding features that make the building and its
surroundings more accessible.
- Sidewalks: repairing, replacing or adding accessible sidewalks to enhance pedestrian access
and aesthetic.
- Outdoor gathering spaces: addition of spaces meant to encourage people to spend time
outdoors including pergolas, seating, patios, fire pits, etc.
- Street furniture: adding or replacing bike racks, benches, picnic tables, planters, decorative
waste bins, etc.
- Landscaping: enhancing outdoor spaces with new plantings, trees, tree lighting, and
greenery.
- Murals or art features: adding murals, sculptures, integrated art panels, or other artistic
elements to enhance aesthetic and community appeal.
- Parking lot lighting: adding or upgrading lighting in the parking lot to enhance safety and
aesthetics.
- Waste collection: adding or upgrading waste enclosures or inground waste bins.
Eligible Expenses for Reimbursement
Other eligible expenses that may be reimbursed through the program can include:
- Design/engineering fees (the program may reimburse up to 20% of the total grant).
- Project management and administration costs (the program may reimburse up to 10% of the
total grant).
- Contractor labour and materials related to the building renovation.
Eligible Improvements Below you will find a list of eligible and in-eligible expenses for the Interior Commercial Renovation Grant. You are encouraged to source eligible projects or services locally wherever possible.
Eligible improvements could include, but are not limited to:
● Demolition ● Electrical ● Plumbing ● HVAC ● Flooring ● Doors
- Framing ● Drywall/paint ● Fire safety
- Structural repair ● Concrete ● Permanent fixtures
- Accessibility features ● Health and safety
- Equipment rentals ● Labour costs
Eligible administrative costs that can be reimbursed through the program also include architectural, design, or engineering fees to a maximum of 20 per cent (20%), and project management and administration fees can be reimbursed to a maximum of 10 per cent (10%).
Eligible Expenses for Reimbursement
Other eligible expenses that may be reimbursed through the program can include:
- Design/engineering fees (the program may reimburse up to 20% of the total grant)
- Project management and administration costs (the program may reimburse up to 10% of the
total grant)
- Contractor labour and materials related to the building renovation
Similar programs
| Program | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aboriginal Entrepreneurship Program: Access to Capital | Grant | Individual Indigenous entrepreneurs may receive up to $99,999 in funding assistance and eligible Indigenous community businesses may receive up to $250,000 (non-repayable equity contribution | Open |
| AgriScience Program – Projects | Grant, In-Kind Support | Up to $5 million per project and $10 million per applicant over the program's duration (2023 to 2028) | Open |
| Sector Innovation and Development: Project Grants Component of Supporting Artistic Practice | Grant | Up to $100,000 | Open |
| Small-Scale Activities Component of Creating, Knowing and Sharing: The Arts and Cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples | Grant | Up to $5,000 per year | Open |
