Website Feedback

Million Dollar Makeover Funding Programs

Funding Programs

The Million Dollar Makeover is a funding program that includes 10 funding opportunities that are designed to encourage private sector investment, revitalization, redevelopment and construction activity throughout the City of Kawartha Lakes. The programs can be used individually or stacked together for a particular project.

Click forward to learn more about the different funding incentives:

Signage Improvement Outdoor Art
Façade Improvement Outdoor Patio
Building Repair and Renovation Start-up Entrepreneur Building Improvement
Heritage Conservation Trent-Severn Façade Improvements
Accessibility Improvement Design Studies
Grant Program

Grants will support business and property owners up to 50% of the eligible costs for the programs listed below.

Grants may be offered to offset the costs associated with redevelopment. Eligibility for grants may be prioritized for applicants within communities that have participated in the Downtown Revitalization program.

 Conditions
  1. Grants may be combined, but a property may not exceed a maximum total of $10,000 in combined grants for the duration of the CIP, unless approved by Council. Multiple grants cannot be applied to the same project cost;
  2. A property is only eligible to receive the Trent-Severn Facade Improvement Grant one (1) time throughout the duration of the CIP;
  3. The applicant may be the registered property owner or tenant, or a person to whom such an owner or tenant has assigned the right to receive a grant; and,
  4. In accordance with an Agreement, payments will only be made after a project is completed to the satisfaction of the City.
 Loan Program

Loans may range from as little as $10,000 for projects such as facade improvements, to upwards of $50,000 for more significant projects such as accessibility and other building upgrades.

Loans are available to the registered property owner, and must not exceed the eligible project costs of the property improvements.

 Conditions
  1.  The applicant must be the registered property owner to receive a loan.

Signage Improvement

Improve the appearance of your sign while becoming consistent with other business signs throughout Kawartha Lakes. Financial incentives to support improving the appearance, aesthetic, and consistency of Kawartha Lakes businesses signage. Eligible costs include the improvement or replacement of signage, street number, and/or awnings and lighting associated with signage.

More details
Eligible funding

Eligible for grant and loan funding. 

Percentage of eligible cost covered: 50%. Maximum amount: $2000
Eligible costs

Improvement or replacement of the business signage, street number, and/or awnings
including:

  • Removal of old signage;
  • Purchase and installation of new signage or awnings; and,
  • Lighting improvements associated with signage.
Eligibility requirements

General eligibility requirements

Signage Improvement grant may be granted to a single property more than once, if the property is occupied by a new tenant or business.

Façade Improvement

Renew and update building façades with an emphasis on the front of buildings. Costs to renew and update building façades with an emphasis on the front of buildings; side and rear façades may be considered if located on a corner lot, or if highly visible from a public space abutting other front façades. Eligible costs include: Restoration or replacement of exterior building treatments, cornices, eaves, and parapets; windows, doors and awnings, exterior lighting; Exterior painting and redesign of storefront or entrance modifications.

More details
Eligible funding

Eligible for grant and loan funding.

Percentage of eligible grant cost covered: 50%. Maximum Grant Amount: $5,000
Eligible costs

Costs to renew and update building façades with an emphasis on the front of buildings; side and rear façades may be considered if located on a corner lot, or if highly visible from a public space abutting other front façades. The following costs are eligible:

  • Restoration or replacement of exterior building treatments, such as brickwork/cladding/siding;
  • Restoration or replacement of cornices, eaves, and parapets;
  • Restoration or replacement of windows, doors and awnings;
  • Restoration or replacement of exterior lighting;
  • Exterior painting;
  • Redesign of storefront or entrance modifications; and,
  • Similar improvements and repairs that would improve the appearance of a building façade.

Costs that are eligible under the Signage Improvement grant are excluded from the Façade Improvement grant.
Eligibility requirements

General eligibility requirements.

An applicant will be required to meet the requirements of the Signage & Façade Design Guidelines to receive funding. Please review the guidelines and discuss your project with City staff if you have any questions.

Country Side Pharmacy

Building Repair and Renovation

Encourage rehabilitation through building repairs, renovation energy retrofits, and utility upgrades in the CIP area.

More details
Eligible funding

Eligible for grant and loan funding.

Percentage of eligible grant cost covered: 50%. Maximum grant amount: $4,000
Eligible costs

Costs of upgrades to the physical interiors of buildings:

  • Structural repairs to walls, ceilings, floors, and foundations;
  • Interior restoration and design; and,
  • Any other improvements that may bring a building up to code, or address health, safety, or risk management issues.

Eligibility requirements

General eligibility requirements.

Heritage Conservation

Encourage conservation of heritage characteristics for designated heritage properties or properties within a designated heritage district.

More details
Eligible funding

Eligible for grant and loan funding.

Percentage of eligible cost covered: 50%. Maximum amount: $4,000
Eligible costs
Costs to preserve, repair, or maintain heritage characteristics of properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.
Eligibility requirements
In addition to the general eligibility requirements, the following additional eligibility requirements apply:

a. Property must be designated under the Ontario Heritage Act.

b. Project must address the designated heritage characteristics of the property as identified in the designation by-law.

Sign for Histoic Downtown Lindsay

Accessibility Improvement

Increase accessibility and walkability.

More details
Eligible funding

Eligible for grant and loan funding.

Percentage of eligible grant cost covered: 50%. Maximum grant amount: $4,000
Eligible costs
 Costs of interior or exterior projects to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.
Eligibility requirements

In addition to the general eligibility requirements, the following additional eligibility requirements apply:

a. The project must be designed in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and related standards and guidelines.

Outdoor Art

Encourage permanent art installations in the public realm. Promote and support local arts and culture.

More details
Eligible funding

Eligible for grant and loan funding.

Percentage of eligible grant cost covered: 50%. Maximum grant amount: $2,000
Eligible costs
Costs to commission, purchase or install permanent outdoor art installations including but not limited to mural and sculptures.
 Eligibility requirements

In addition to the general eligibility requirements, the following additional eligibility requirements apply:

a. Project must be located so as to be plainly visible from an adjacent public street or sidewalk.

b. Project is subject to any applicable municipal public art policy and/or other acquisition process in effect.

Example of outdoor art in Omemee

Outdoor Patio

Encourage the development of outdoor patios and similar "el fresco" dining opportunities in the CIP area.

More details
 Eligible funding

Eligible for grant and loan funding.

Percentage of eligible grant cost covered: 50%. Maximum grant amount: $2,000
 Eligible costs
Costs for a deck, patio stones or a similar surface, fending or roll up or folding aluminum/glass garage doors or similar installations to open up the building to the outdoors.
Eligibility requirements

In addition to the general eligibility requirements, the following additional eligibility requirements apply:

a. Patio must be for use of business patrons of a commercial use or for the general public.

Outdoor Patio in Norland

Programs for KLSBEC Clients                                                                                   KLSBEC Logo

Support for entrepreneurs working with the Kawartha Lakes Small Business Entrepreneurship Center

Start-up Entrepreneur Building Improvement

Encourage new businesses to locate in vacant buildings in the CIP area.

 More details
Eligible funding

Eligible for grant and loan funding.

Percentage of eligible cost covered: 50%. Maximum amount: $2,000
Eligible costs

Costs of minor upgrades to the physical interiors of buildings:

  • Structural repairs to walls, ceilings, floors and foundations;
  • Interior restoration and design; and,
  • Any other improvements that may bring a building up to code, or address health, safety, or risk management issues.
Eligibility requirements
In addition to the general eligibility requirements, the following additional eligibility requirements apply:

a. Applicant must be a current recipient of the "Starter Company" or "Summer Company" program through the KLSBEC, or a similar program funded by the provincial or federal government.

Programs for Waterfront Businesses

To connect our communities and businesses with the waterways in Kawartha Lakes.

Trent-Severn Facade Improvement

Improve and renew the exterior appearance/aesthetic of buildings in the CIP area with a focus on the facade of buildings visible from the Trent-Severn Waterway area. Encourage tourism and leverage visitors associated with the Trent-Severn Waterway area.

 More details
 Eligible funding

Eligible for grant and loan funding. 

Percentage of eligible grant cost covered: 50%. Maximum grant amount: $5,000.
 Eligible costs

Costs to renew and update building façades facing the Trent-Severn Waterway area. The following costs are eligible:

  • Restoration or replacement of exterior building treatments, such as brickwork/cladding/siding;
  • Restoration or replacement of cornices, eaves, and parapets;
  • Restoration or replacement of windows, doors and awnings;
  • Restoration or replacement of exterior lighting;
  • Exterior painting;
  • Redesign of storefront or entrance modifications; and,
  • Similar improvements and repairs that would improve the appearance of a building façade.
 Eligibility requirements

 In addition to the general eligibility requirements, the following additional eligibility requirements apply:

a. The property must be abutting the Trent-Severn Waterway area.

b. Facade improvements must be consistent with any policies and requirements outlined by Parks Canada pertaining to the Trent-Severn Waterway area as a National Historic Site.

Programs to Encourage Development

Programs to reduce barriers to development and encourage high quality design projects.

Design Studies

Encourage high quality design in accordance with the City of Kawartha Lakes Official Plan and Secondary Plans, for projects within the CIP area.

More details
Eligible funding

Eligible for grant and loan funding.

Percentage of eligible grant cost covered: 50%. Maximum grant amount: $2,000.
Eligibility costs
Cost of preparation of architectural or engineering plans and site plans for building facade improvements, Building, Fire or Electrical code retrofits, Accessibility retrofits, or landscaping and property infrastructure improvements.
Eligibility requirements
General eligibility requirements

Success stories: Before and after

Check out some of the successful projects that have been funded by the Million Dollar Makeover.

Photo Gallery: Million Dollar Makeover will appear here on the public site.

Contact Us