• 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 construction impacts on business operations and customer access, such as project impact assessments, City business liaisons and City-led business area supports.
• For 2024, Council directed Administration to pilot the Main Streets Business Support Grant to assist businesses in preparing for construction and implementing their own strategies to offset the impacts of Main Streets construction on business operations and customer access.
• Find out more about other business-friendly initiatives The City has been piloting to support businesses leading up to and during planned construction.

Businesses eligible for the grant:

• Operate a physical storefront location within one city block of 2024 planned construction activities for Marda Loop and/or Bridgeland Main Streets projects.
• Provide in-person retail sales, product rentals or customer services, which require customers to travel to the site of business to complete the business transaction.
• Are licensed by The City of Calgary and possess one or more of the licence types identified for the pilot.
• Must be operational at any point during the grant application period.

• To be eligible for the Main Streets Business Support Grant, a business must be licensed by The City of Calgary and possess one or more of the licence types identified for the pilot.
• You can view an extensive list of eligible business licence types here.

• The Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot is being piloted in Marda Loop and Bridgeland in 2024.
• Businesses that meet the eligibility requirements and submit a successful application prior to 11:59p.m. on October 31, 2024, are eligible to apply for the Main Streets Business Support Grant.
• See maps to confirm your business is located within one block of planned 2024 Main Streets construction activities and within the grant eligibility area.
• If you are looking to open a new business in a Main Streets area, we encourage you to review the information about business licensing and getting your new business started in Calgary.

• The Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot is only being piloted in Marda Loop and Bridgeland in 2024.
• Businesses located outside the grant eligibility area defined as within 1 block of 2024 planned construction for Marda Loop and/or Bridgeland Main Streets projects, will not be eligible to receive a Main Streets Business Support grant.

• On 2024 March 19, Council directed Administration to initiate a Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot in 2024 and to report back to Infrastructure and Planning Committee in Q1 2025 on the outcomes and effectiveness of the pilot.
• The grant is funded through the Main Streets capital program and there is no plan or available budget to expand the grant pilot to other planned construction projects or business areas in 2024.
• The City is using the pilot to test the effectiveness of providing lump-sum financial support to businesses to assist businesses in preparing for construction and implementing their own strategies to offset the impacts of Main Streets construction on business operations and customer access.

• No, this grant pilot is specifically geared for businesses affected by planned Main Streets construction activities in 2024.  Businesses must be operational at any point during the grant application period.

• The grant application period is open, and The City will be accepting grant applications from eligible businesses until October 31, 2024.
• Eligible businesses may apply for the Main Streets Business Support Grant, using the online grant application.
• A business owner or authorized representative will need to provide the following information and agree to the terms of the grant application: 

1. Business licence number
2. Business licence type(s)
3. Operating as or trade name
4. Corporation/partnership/sole proprietor name (if applicable)
5. Business location address
6. Business contact information

• If a business meets all requirements for grant eligibility and the application is complete, a one-time grant payment of $5,000 will be mailed directly to the Business Licence name and address on file with The City.
• The application process includes a brief evaluation survey. Responses will be used to help inform the overall evaluation of the pilot and a recommendation to City Council’s Infrastructure and Planning Committee on potentially formalizing a business support grant for Main Streets infrastructure projects in the future.

• The application period is now open. Main Streets Business Support Grant applications will be accepted until October 31, 2024.
• Businesses eligible to apply may submit their online application at any time during the application period. 

• This information is located on your business licence that is displayed at your business location. Visit calgary.ca/mybusiness for further information.

• Email cbr@calgary.ca should you have further questions about this program or need assistance applying.

• Businesses that are licensed by The City of Calgary and located within the grant eligibility area have been notified by direct mail and invited to apply.
• If you did not receive a notice to apply, check to confirm your business is eligible to apply. 
• If your business meets all the eligibility requirements for the Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot, you may use the online application to apply for the grant.
• Email cbr@calgary.ca should you have further questions about this program or need assistance applying.

• 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 providing construction financial support as one of many ways to support businesses during planned construction.
• Responses will be used to help inform the overall evaluation of the pilot and a recommendation to City Council’s Infrastructure and Planning Committee on potentially formalizing a business support grant for Main Streets infrastructure projects in the future.

• The grant is being implemented as a pilot program in 2024 and complements other business-friendly construction management practices and initiatives being implemented for different capital projects.  
• This is the first time that The City of Calgary has administered such a grant, and we anticipate there will be lessons learned throughout the application and administration processes.
• These lessons and the feedback we gather through the evaluation process will help to inform the overall evaluation of the pilot and a recommendation to City Council’s Infrastructure and Planning Committee on potentially formalizing a business support grant for Main Streets capital infrastructure projects in the future.
• The pilot program will be evaluated throughout 2024 and Administration will report back to Infrastructure and Planning Committee in Q1 2025 on the outcomes and effectiveness of this type of business support. 

• Yes, The City wants to hear from all businesses, eligible and ineligible, as we evaluate the grant pilot. 
• We encourage you to provide your feedback and thoughts on the grant pilot here. 
• We will have more opportunities for businesses to provide feedback in our evaluation process later this year, if you would like to participate, please indicate here. 

The Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot is funded from the existing Main Streets capital program. This grant pilot will not impact the overall City budget or current property tax rates.