Corner Store Exterior Commercial Renovation Grant

Program Description

A City of Edmonton reimbursement grant covering 50% of eligible exterior construction costs for commercial buildings in Neighbourhood Commercial Areas inside the Anthony Henday. The applicant must be the building owner (or their authorized designate), the building must be at least 20 years old, and the grant is capped by storefront linear footage — $20,000 to $90,000 per building, and $120,000 across a commercial site.

Eligibility Requirements

• The applicant must be the building owner (or that person's designate with written authorization) — a tenant business cannot apply on its own behalf.
• The building must be in a Neighbourhood Commercial Area in a mature or established (redeveloping) neighbourhood of Edmonton, within the boundaries of the Anthony Henday Freeway.
• The building must be a commercial building in a strip mall or mini-mall with ground-level commercial units, or one of a group of standalone commercial buildings with ground-level commercial units, and must have commercial use on the main floor.
• The building must be at least 20 years old.
• The building owner must be current (not in arrears) on municipal property tax payments; proof of good standing is required before reimbursement.
• The building owner must not be in default of obligations under any other City of Edmonton program or agreement, and must not be in litigation with the City.
• The project must include at least three eligible improvements from the program's published list, and must meet the program's design principles.
• Applications are competitively evaluated — priority goes to projects demonstrating the most comprehensive building enhancements, and the City states not all eligible projects will receive a grant or the maximum amount.
• The project must achieve a transparent storefront; proposals that reduce transparency are not eligible.
• Construction work started before the application is submitted and a Reimbursement Grant Agreement is signed is not reimbursable.
• All work must be performed by contractors holding a valid City of Edmonton business licence.
• Buildings in Business Improvement Areas, and buildings on large commercial corridors along arterial roads or highways that draw customers from beyond the immediate neighbourhood, are excluded.
• Buildings built primarily for auto-oriented uses (for example gas stations and car washes) are excluded.
• Buildings whose primary tenant is or will be a liquor store, body rub centre, cannabis store or vape store are excluded.
• Buildings occupied solely by franchised companies whose corporate design standards limit the program's influence on building design and layout are excluded.
• Residential-style buildings with Commercial or Direct Control zoning are excluded.
• Buildings that have previously received a Corner Store Program Exterior Grant cannot receive it again.
• Historic property projects inconsistent with the City's Historic Resources Management Program are excluded.
• Construction must be completed within one year of signing the Reimbursement Agreement.
• Storefront windows must remain clear and unobstructed — no tints, wraps or bars — for five years after the reimbursement is paid.