The Downtown Victoria Business Association offers a range of financial assistance through our various grant programs:

Business Facade Improvement Program

This partnership between the City and the DVBA will provide financial support for businesses or property owners looking to improve the overall look and feel of commercial properties.  An individual business can apply for a grant reimbursement of 50% of their costs to a maximum of $5000, or a property owner can apply for a grant reimbursement of 50% of costs to a maximum of $5000 per commercial tenant with a street-facing storefront (to a maximum of six tenants).

Participating pros must be within the area designated by the City for the program.  This area is bounded by Discovery Street to the north, Blanshard Street to the east, Belleville Street to the south, and the harbour to the west.

Up to 50% of a participating business’ eligible expenses will be reimbursed by funds provided jointly by the DVBA and the City of Victoria.  (If a business has been or will be receiving payment from insurance coverage, overlap will be managed so that funds for the same expenses will not be reimbursed by both insurance and this program).

Eligible expenses are:

  • Exterior building surface treatments to include siding, moulding, trim, paint
  • Upgraded exterior lighting features
  • Exterior awnings – cleaning or replacement
  • Permanent landscaping
  • Bird deterrent features
  • Exterior cleaning (e.g., hiring a professional company to power wash or scrub walls, windows, doors, awnings, etc.)

Each business and/or property owner is responsible for acquiring all necessary building permits and approvals before executing the Facade Improvement Plan on their building. If the building is a designated Heritage Building, City design approval is needed for proposed work.

If you are interested in proceeding with façade beautification, please contact Madison Sutcliffe, DVBA Member Engagement Coordinator, at madison@downtownvictoria.ca.  As funds are limited, pre-approval is required and will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis.

Security and/or Vandalism Grants

The available funding for businesses to set up security cameras, upgrade lock quality, install anti-shatter window films, or otherwise upgrade security and/or expedite repairs to businesses’ windows, doors, locks, and physical properties due to vandalism or break-in damage has been exhausted for 2023.  If you wish to be added to a waitlist, please email alison@downtownvictoria.ca.  Should we find a new funding source, businesses on the waitlist will be contacted in the order they apply.  Once the Province’s reimbursement program (retroactive to January 1, 2023) is in place, waitlisted businesses will be sent all the appropriate information on how to apply to that program.

DVBA

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  200-764 Yates Street, Victoria BC

  250-386-2238

  info@downtownvictoria.ca

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date on the latest events and more!

DVBA

  200-764 Yates Street, Victoria BC

  250-386-2238

  info@downtownvictoria.ca