Commercial Building Facade Grant

• Completed application form
• Written owner authorization, if applicable
• At least three contractor cost estimates
• Professional architectural or design drawings
• Supporting documents requested by Township staff

Who is eligible?

• Property owners in Downtown Smithville
• Tenants with written owner authorization
• Commercial, institutional, and mixed-use property applicants

Who is not eligible

• Applicants without property owner authorization, when required
• Properties outside Downtown Smithville

Eligible expenses

• Facade rehabilitation, restoration, and improvement work
• Storefront repairs and replacement, including doors and windows
• Masonry, brickwork, cornices, parapets, eaves, awnings, canopies, lighting, signage, and landscaping
• Architectural or professional design fees related to eligible work

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Work that is not eligible under the program
• Projects that do not comply with heritage-related requirements
• Improvement work completed outside the approved scope

Eligible geographic areas

• Downtown Smithville
• Township of West Lincoln

• Compliance with program eligibility requirements
• Consistency with Township urban design and heritage design guidance
• Quality and completeness of supporting documentation
• Township Council discretion for grant approval

• Step 1: Pre-application meeting
  • Arrange a meeting with Township staff to review eligibility and proposed work.
  • Confirm the scope of the project and required supporting documents.
• Step 2: Prepare the application
  • Complete the application form.
  • Gather owner authorization, cost estimates, drawings, and any other required documents.
• Step 3: Submit the application
  • Send the completed application to the Township Planning department by email or deliver it in person to the Township Office.
• Step 4: Review and approval
  • Staff review the application and may request more information or inspect the property.
  • The application is forwarded to Township Council with a recommendation.
• Step 5: Agreement and project completion
  • If approved, sign the grant agreement before starting construction.
  • Complete the approved work, then provide required completion documents for final review and payment.

• Applications and supporting documents are reviewed by Township staff for eligibility.
• Staff may request clarification, additional documents, or perform a site visit and inspection.
• Staff make a recommendation to Township Council.
• If approved, a grant agreement is executed before construction and payment.
• After completion, staff review the work and documentation before issuing the grant cheque.

• No application fee is required.
• A pre-application meeting with staff is recommended.
• Before-and-after photos are required.
• A grant agreement must be signed before payment.