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Spruce the Bruce
Spruce the Bruce 2023 has been very successful, as such, applications are now closed. If you didn't get an application in this year, book a time to chat about potential future opportunities!
Bruce County is invested in our local and future residents, businesses, and communities. The Spruce the Bruce program helps to build healthy and vibrant communities by offering resources to maintain and grow commercial areas and public experiences.
Façade Building Improvement Grant
2023 Applications closed. The Façade Building Improvement grant provides funding for business and property owners to update and improve the exterior façade of the downtown commercial building.
Fascia Signage Grant
2023 Applications closed. The Fascia Signage grant provides funding for business and property owners to install a new and updated façade (flat / fascia) sign on the exterior of the downtown commercial building.
Perpendicular Signage Grant
2023 Applications closed. The Perpendicular Signage grant provides funding for business and property owners to install a new perpendicular (blade / projecting) sign on the exterior of the downtown commercial building.
Awning Grant
2023 Applications closed. The Awning grant provides funding for business and property owners to install an awning on the exterior of the downtown commercial building.
Patio Installation Grant
2023 Applications closed. The Patio Installation grant provides funding for business and property owners to install or expand an outdoor patio for their guests and visitors to enjoy food and beverage on. The patio may be a sidewalk patio, rooftop patio, or back patio.
Community Marketing Grant
2023 Applications closed. The Community Marketing grant provides funding for businesses or municipalities, not-for-profits or charities with a focus or mandate to service visitors to collaboratively develop a package itinerary or marketing campaign that stimulates the local downtown economy.
Agri-Food Innovation Grant
The Agri-Food Innovation grant provides funding for agricultural operators to improve or implement new value-added and innovative technologies, software, and hardware.
Business Accessibility Adaptability Grant
The Business Accessibility Adaptability grant provides funding for business and property owners to upgrade or renovate the exterior or interior of their commercial building to remove or reduce barriers for people with disabilities.
Product and Experience Development Grant
The Product & Experience Development / Enhancement grant provides funding for tourism business and property owners of tourism establishments to improve the visitor experience by making upgrades and enhancements to their products, services, and physical location.
Residential Improvement Grant
The Residential Improvement grant provides funding for business and property owners to upgrade or renovate their mixed-use (commercial-residential) building to add new residential units or increase occupancy in existing units for long-term rental use.
Community Marketing Grant
2023 Applications closed. The Community Marketing grant provides funding for businesses or municipalities, not-for-profits or charities with a focus or mandate to service visitors to collaboratively develop a package itinerary or marketing campaign that stimulates the local downtown economy.
Streetscape Beautification Grant
2023 Applications closed. The Streetscape Beautification grant provides funding for municipalities or their entities, Business Improvement Areas, or registered Chambers of Commerce to install or improve streetscape improvements in the downtown core that improve the vibrancy of the downtown.
Community Signage Grant
2023 Applications closed. The Community Signage grant provides funding for a municipality, not-for-profit, or charity with a focus or mandate to service visitors, to install signage that improves the visitor experience.
Destination Infrastructure & Active Transportation Grant
2023 Applications closed. The Destination Infrastructure & Active Transportation grant provides funding for municipalities, not-for-profits, and charitable organizations charity with a focus or mandate to service visitors, to install or enhance infrastructure or make capital improvements that improve the quality of core visitor attractions or active transportation areas.
Community Improvement Plans (CIP)
A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a tool that allows a municipality to direct funds and implement policy initiatives toward a specifically defined project area and are intended to encourage rehabilitation initiatives and/or stimulate development.
Façade Improvement, Fascia Signage, Perpendicular Signage, Awning, Patio Installation, Community Marketing, Streetscape Beautification grants all require the project to take place within a downtown Community Improvement Project Area (CIPA).
Agri-Food Innovation, Business Accessibility Adaptability, Product & Experience Development / Enhancement, and Residential Improvement grants all require the project to take place in a Community Improvement Project Area.
Community Signage and Destination Infrastructure grants require the project to occur within Bruce County Boundaries.
Find the Community Improvement Project Area (CIPA) for your community here: Allenford, Brockton (municipal-wide), Cargill, Chepstow, Chesley, Elmwood, Hepworth, Kincardine, Lion's Head, Lucknow, Mildmay, Paisley, Pinkerton, Point Clark, Port Elgin, Ripley, Sauble Beach, Southampton, Tara, Teeswater, Tobermory, Walkerton and Wiarton.
Community Toolkits
If applying for a Community Marketing, Streetscape Beautification, Community Signage, or Destination Infrastructure & Active Transportation grant, the project must comply with and use elements from the applicable Community Toolkit.
If applying for a Façade Building Improvement, Fascia Signage, Perpendicular Signage, Awning, or Patio Installation grant, the project should attempt to include elements from the applicable Community Toolkit whenever possible.
Find the branding elements for your community here: Allenford, Chesley, Hepworth, Kincardine, Lion’s Head, Lucknow, Mildmay, Paisley, Port Elgin, Ripley, Sauble Beach, Southampton, Tara, Teeswater, Tobermory, Walkerton, or Wiarton.
Community Transformations
The Spruce the Bruce Story Map shows the transformation of our communities since the program's inception in 2010. This transformation started from a plan — Community Toolkit. Bruce County and community leaders have taken the tools from the plan, capitalized on Spruce the Bruce grants, and brought their community vision to life.
Each point on the map represents a project supported by Spruce the Bruce project.