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Grants

Most municipal granting programs are a percent contribution (up to a maximum contribution of 50 percent) of eligible costs. There are some differences in what qualifies as matching funds (e.g., in-kind or donated labour or resources) and what qualifies as an eligible cost. Most grant programs are for façade improvements only.

Matching grant programs:

  • City of Edmonton (Alberta)– provides matching grants for the rehabilitation and maintenance of municipally designated properties. Rehabilitation grants cover 50% of project costs for residential and commercial properties, with a limit of $75,000 for residential properties. Maintenance grants cover 30% of project costs, to a maximum of $10,000 for residential properties and $50,000 for commercial properties. Maintenance incentives are renewable every five years.
  • SurreyBuilding Preservation Program (British Columbia)– provides matching grants to owners of protected heritage buildings for exterior stabilization, maintenance or restoration. Grants for 50% of cost of work, up to $5,000 per year.
  • Vancouver (British Columbia) – The Restore It! Granting Program, operated by the Vancouver Heritage Foundation (VHF) grants up to 50% of project cost to a maximum of $1500 for maintenance and restoration of the original exterior fabric of heritage buildings. 
  • Victoria (British Columbia) – The House Grants Program, operated by the Victoria Heritage Foundation (VHF) provides grants of approximately 25% of project cost to assist homeowners with restoration and repair of heritage designated residences. Maximum of $16,500 per year, or over any ten-year period. VHF disburses grant funds for City of Victoria.
  • Victoria (British Columbia)– The Building Incentive Program, operated by Victoria Civic Heritage Trust (VCHT) provides matching grants for commercial or institutional heritage designated buildings to assist with façade restoration, structural improvements, building code upgrades and other rehabilitation costs. Grants cover up to 50% of the cost, up to a maximum of $50,000 per project. VCHT disburses grant funds for City of Victoria.
  • Kingston (Ontario) – The Heritage Property Grants Program offers the owner of eligible property a matching grant for 50% of the cost of eligible work, once every two years.
  • Kitchener (Ontario)– The Designated Heritage Property Grant Program provides matching grants for maximum of $3,000 per property per year including 50% of architects and engineers fees to maximum of $900.
  • London (Ontario)– The Heritage Building Improvement Grant Program is one of seven financial incentives aimed at revitalizing the centre of the city. Provides a grant for 50% of cost of eligible improvements on designated properties or properties in Heritage Conservation Districts, to a maximum of $5,000.
  • Markham (Ontario)– The Designated Heritage Property Grant Program provides grants for 50% of eligible cost of eligible conservation work on designated heritage properties. Minimum of $500 in work and maximum of $5,000 grant. Donated materials and labour not considered part of eligible costs. One grant per calendar year.
  • Ottawa (Ontario)– The Heritage Grant Program for Building Restoration provides matching grants of up to $5,000 for eligible work on designated buildings or those within heritage conservation districts. Owners can apply for one grant every two years.
  • Port Hope (Ontario) – Port Hope Heritage, the municipal heritage advisory committee, operates a Heritage Grant Program that provides matching grants for 5 projects on the building façade or features identified in designation bylaw, from an annual budget of $25,000.   
  • Sault Ste. Marie (Ontario)– The municipal heritage committee offers grants for up to 66% of the cost of heritage conservation projects, to a maximum of $3,000.
  • Toronto (Ontario)– The Heritage Grant Program provides grants for 50% of cost of eligible heritage conservation work on designated heritage properties. Limit of $10,000 grant for residential buildings; no limit for institutional, multi-residential and industrial buildings.
  • Cape Breton (Nova Scotia)– offers grants of 40% of the cost of exterior repairs or renovations to municipally registered heritage properties, and pre-1940 properties within heritage conservation districts. The maximum grant is $4,000, or $6,000 for properties with more than 4,000 square feet usable space. http://www.cbrm.ns.ca/cbrm-heritage-program.html
  • Halifax (Nova Scotia)– provides matching grants of up to $10,000 for 50% of costs of eligible exterior work on privately owned, registered municipal heritage properties, in residential or commercial use. One grant per property per year and two in any four years.  
  • Regina (Saskatchewan)– The Heritage Property Tax Incentive Program offers matching grants of up to $25,000 to restore or preserve designated heritage properties that cannot participate in tax rebate program because they are already tax-exempt.  
  • Whitehorse (Yukon)– provides funding for up to 50% of costs of conservation projects at designated historic sites to a maximum of $10,000.

Façade rehabilitation in heritage conservation districts or specified improvement areas:

  • Commercial Façade Improvement Grants and Commercial Signage Replacement Grants – The Town of Markham provides matching grants for commercial buildings in heritage districts, to encourage façades and signage that are more in keeping with characteristics of the district. Up to $15,000 for a façade and $1,000 for a sign. Easement agreements are only required where the grant is more than $5,000. http://www.markham.ca/Markham/Heritage/Heritage_Support.htm
  • Downtown Façade Grant Program– The City of Nanaimo (British Columbia) provides matching grants for façade improvement of buildings in the downtown core, for 50% of project costs, to maximum of $10,000 per building. Between 2003 and 2006, $150,000 was awarded for façade improvements to 15 heritage buildings, helping to leverage an estimated $2 million in additional private investment [this program may have ended?]

Matching grants for special projects:

  • Fisheries Heritage Preservation Program – is a short-term, small-project grant program operated by the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador. Matching grants are available to the owners of historic fisheries structures to restore built heritage features using traditional materials and designs. Grants are given for 50% of project costs to a maximum of $2,000 for individuals and $10,000 for community-based projects. Unlike most matching grant programs, FHPP permits volunteer labour to be part of the matching contribution. http://www.fisheriesheritage.ca/programInformation.asp

Case studies for FHPP include: Alexander Kean’s Room, Pound Cove, New-Wes-Valley (2004); Roberts’ Store, Woody Point; Stanley Ford Property, Jackson’s Arm (2008); and Gordon Fry Fish Store, Summerville (2008);

Expert heritage conservation advice:

  • London Heritage Building Assessment/Condition Grant Program– provides one-time matching grant for up to $5,000 or 50% cost of expert heritage/building assessment for buildings within certain revitalization areas. Need link
  • Conservation Plans – is a Vancouver Heritage Foundation (VHF) program that provides matching grants to prepare professional conservation plans for heritage designated houses. Grants are for 50% of the cost of a conservation plan up to a maximum of $2,500. City of Vancouver is a funding partner in VHF. http://www.victoriaheritagefoundation.ca/housegrants.html

Case studies available at: http://www.vancouverheritagefoundation.org/conservationplans.html