The Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot
Project update: March 2026
Main Streets Business Support Grant applications were accepted between June 20, 2024, and October 31, 2024. The grant is now closed.
The Main Streets Business Support Grant pilot was evaluated throughout 2025. The evaluation process is now complete. The evaluation report has been included in the March 11, 2026 Infrastructure and Planning Committee agenda item on Advancing Business-Friendly Construction.
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.
Throughout 2025 research and engagement were used to evaluate the grant pilot’s effectiveness and inform a recommendation on whether to provide business support grants moving forward. The evaluation report has been included in the March 11, 2026 Infrastructure and Planning Committee agenda item on Advancing Business-Friendly Construction. The grant evaluation process gathered and considered 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.
Eligibility areas
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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Eligibility details
Eligible business license 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. For more information on how The City is advancing business-friendly construction approaches visit Calgary.ca/businessfriendlyconstruction
Frequently asked questions
Evaluation process
Why did The City evaluate 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
Can businesses apply retroactively for the grant pilot?
- The grant pilot application period closed on October 31, 2024.