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Main Street Store Fronts

Storefront Improvement Incentive Program

The intake for the 2026 program is now closed.

To assist property owners with commercial space improvements, the City of Dauphin relaunched its Storefront Improvement Incentive Program (SIIP) for businesses. The program is managed and administered by Dauphin Economic Development and provides funding for up to 50% of the eligible costs to a maximum of $5,000 per commercial property. The incentive is a reimbursement program and will be paid out upon the completion of the project and after all criteria are met.

 

 Intent

This incentive program is intended to assist commercial property owners and business tenants in enhancing storefronts with significant improvements.

Objectives
The following is a list of objectives that outline the purpose of the program:

  • To assist commercial property and business owners with improvements to their buildings/storefronts to create a more vibrant and attractive business corridor/area and downtown area;
  • To encourage the economic vitality of the business corridor/area and downtown area in all seasons;
  • To create a welcoming and appealing community as a place to shop and live, and;
  • To enhance safety and security improvements for the purpose of crime prevention. 

 Improvement Eligibility

Eligible properties

Note that new construction, national franchises, government buildings, residences, churches, or other religious institutions are not eligible. An independent owner of a national franchise may be eligible.  

Properties that received SIIP funding in previous years are eligible to apply again in 2026. In the event that applications exceed available funding, the review committee may take previous funding approvals into consideration. 

Eligible improvements include:

  • Replacement or restoration of cornices, eaves, parapets, and other architectural features 
  • Replacement of windows 
  • Redesign and reconstruction of the storefront  
  • Installation of appropriate new signage or improvements to existing signage, in combination with other storefront improvements
  • Installation of canopies and/or awnings
  • Installation of exterior lighting
  • Restoration of historic features
  • Repainting, cleaning, or restoration of facades as one component of the overall initiative
  • Entranceway modifications
  • Engineering and/or design studies/drawings
  • Roll shutters, camera systems, or other security features

Ineligible improvements include: 

  • Building repairs or structural foundations without aesthetics improvement
  • Roof repairs not related to exterior aesthetics
  • Interior plumbing
  • Security bars
  • Electrical or structural upgrades not associated with the storefront improvements
  • Non-permanent fixtures (e.g. Banner signs, interior window coverings, planters, benches, etc.)
  • Personal property or equipment
  • Tenant improvements not associated with a comprehensive upgrade
  • Sidewalks and paving
  • Metal clad siding
  • Accessibility ramps