The Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot
We piloted something new to support businesses!
The Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot provides a one-time grant to eligible businesses in Marda Loop and Bridgeland.
Find out more about other business-friendly initiatives The City has been piloting to support businesses leading up to and during construction.
Have a question or comment?
Evaluation process
In 2024, at the direction of City Council, The City implemented a one-time Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot with the objectives of
- helping businesses prepare for construction and
- implementing strategies to encourage business patronage during construction.
The Main Streets Business Support Grant was implemented as a pilot to evaluate its effectiveness in achieving these objectives.
Research and engagement are underway to evaluate the grant pilot’s effectiveness and inform a recommendation on whether to provide business support grants moving forward. Early in 2025, businesses in the pilot areas were asked to participate in a survey evaluating the Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot.
These survey responses, together with inputs from research and engagement being undertaken throughout 2025, will be used to evaluate the effectiveness of the grant pilot. The grant evaluation process will gather and consider feedback on topics included but not limited to:
- How businesses used the funding provided.
- Evaluation of the grant’s effectiveness in helping businesses prepare for construction and encourage patronage during construction.
- Grant administration, eligibility criteria and application process.
- Feedback on business-friendly construction approaches The City has been piloting.
- Suggestions and ideas for future business support initiatives.
For more information on the engagement process please visit engage.calgary.ca/businessfriendlypolicy.
Eligibility
On March 19, 2024, City Council directed Administration to initiate a Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot in 2024 and to report back to Infrastructure and Planning Committee on the outcomes and effectiveness of the pilot.
To qualify for the Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot, businesses must meet all eligibility requirements:
- Provide in-person retail sales, product rentals or consumer services, which require customers to travel to the site of business to complete the business transaction.
- Operate with a physical storefront* location within one city block of 2024 planned construction activities for Marda Loop and/or Bridgeland Main Streets projects (see grant eligibility area map).
- Be licenced by The City of Calgary and possess one or more of the Licence Types identified for the pilot (see listing of eligible business licence types).
- Be operational at any point during the grant application period, between June 20, 2024, and October 31, 2024.
*Physical storefront includes businesses accessed from a main floor building entrance and includes businesses on upper floors.
Marda Loop Main Streets Construction & Grant Eligibility Area
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Bridgeland Main Streets Construction & Grant Eligibility Area 1
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Bridgeland Main Streets Construction & Grant Eligibility Area 2
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Business Licence types*
Eligible business licence types* identified for the pilot include:
| Business type | Business type |
|---|---|
| Alcohol Beverage Sales | Liquor store |
| Amusement Arcade | Massage Centre |
| Auto Body Shop | Motor Vehicle Dealer – Premises |
| Body Rub Centre | Motor Vehicle Repair & Service |
| Cannabis Store | Outdoor Patio |
| Cinema | Pawnbroker |
| Entertainment Establishment | Payday Lender |
| Fabric Cleaning | Personal Service |
| Food Service – Premises | Retail Dealer – Premises |
| Fuel Sales/Storage | Secondhand Dealer |
| Furniture Refinishing | Tobacco Retailer |
| Hotel/Motel | Vaping Retailer |
| Kennel Service/Pet Dealer |
*Business type as defined in Business Licence Bylaw 32M98, Body Rub Licence Bylaw 53M2012 and Massage Licence Bylaw 52M2013
Grant exclusions
- In the situation where an individual business has two or more eligible Business Licence types, only one grant will be provided.
- Businesses not required to have one or more of The City of Calgary Business Licences identified for the grant pilot are not eligible.
For more information on eligibility, please visit Eligibility FAQs.
Application process
The grant application period is now closed. Main Streets Business Support Grant applications were accepted between June 20, 2024, and October 31, 2024.
Businesses that met the eligibility requirements had the opportunity to submit their online application at any time during the application period.
Grant application process
To apply for the Main Streets Business Support Grant, the following business information was needed:
- Business licence number
- Business licence type(s)
- Operating as or trade name
- Corporation/partnership/sole proprietor name (if applicable)
- Business location address
- Business contact information
Business-friendly initiatives
The Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot is one of several business-friendly initiatives The City has piloted and is just one piece of the puzzle in supporting businesses leading up to and during the delivery of planned capital projects. For more information on how The City is advancing business-friendly construction approaches visit Calgary.ca/cbr
Frequently asked questions
General
How is The City supporting businesses to prepare for planned construction?
- We know how important businesses are to the local economy and we are working hard to plan proactively and support local businesses leading up to and during planned construction.
- The City has been piloting a variety of approaches aimed at supporting businesses and mitigating potential challenges due to construction. These initiatives have included alternative parking solutions, dedicated business liaisons, impact assessments, improved directional signage and marketing campaigns.
- Find out more about other business-friendly initiatives The City has been piloting to support businesses leading up to and during planned construction.
Evaluation process
How can businesses participate in the evaluation process?
- More details on the evaluation process are available on this webpage.
- For more information on the engagement process please visit engage.calgary.ca/businessfriendlypolicy.
Is it mandatory for businesses that received grant money to participate in the evaluation process?
- It is not mandatory for businesses to participate in the evaluation process; however, we strongly encourage all businesses to provide feedback to help The City evaluate the effectiveness of the grant pilot.
- In 2024, at the direction of City Council, The City implemented a one-time Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot with the objectives of 1) helping businesses prepare for construction and 2) implementing strategies to encourage business patronage during construction.
- Responses will be used to help inform the overall evaluation of the grant pilot and together with inputs from research and engagement being undertaken throughout 2025, will help to inform a recommendation to City Council’s Infrastructure and Planning Committee on whether to provide business support grants moving forward.
Why is The City evaluating the grant pilot program and process?
- The grant was implemented as a pilot program in 2024 and complements other business-friendly construction management practices and initiatives being implemented for different capital projects.
- More details on the evaluation process are available on this webpage.
Can ineligible businesses still participate in the evaluation process?
- Yes, The City wants to hear from all businesses, eligible and ineligible, as we evaluate the grant pilot. Learn more about the engagement process at engage.calgary.ca/businessfriendlypolicy.
Eligibility
Is The City planning to expand this program to other construction projects?
- On 2024 March 19, City Council directed Administration to initiate a Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot in 2024 and to report back to Infrastructure and Planning Committee on the outcomes and effectiveness of the pilot.
- The Main Streets Business Support Grant was implemented as a pilot in 2024 to evaluate its effectiveness in achieving the objectives of 1) helping businesses prepare for construction and 2) implementing strategies to encourage business patronage during construction.
- Research and engagement are underway to evaluate the grant pilot’s effectiveness in achieving these objectives and will inform a recommendation on whether to provide business support grants moving forward.
Can businesses apply retroactively for the grant pilot?
- The grant pilot application period closed on October 31, 2024.
- Research and engagement are underway to evaluate the grant pilot’s effectiveness. Administration will report back to Infrastructure and Planning Committee early in 2026 on the outcomes of the grant pilot, including a recommendation on whether to provide business support grants moving forward.