Businesses - Dianne Saxe, Ward 11 Councillor

Business Improvement Areas

A Business Improvement Area (BIA) is made up of commercial and industrial property owners and their non-residential tenants who join together under a volunteer Board of Management (BIA Board) to carry out improvements and promote economic development within their designated area. The financing of BIA operating budgets is raised by a special property tax levy on the commercial and industrial properties within the BIA boundary.

The City funds a portion of the capital projects undertaken by BIAs for streetscaping under the BIA Capital Cost-Sharing Program, an incentive program offered to the City’s BIAs that leverages investments from BIAs to improve, beautify, enhance and brand Toronto’s unique neighbourhoods.

To learn more about BIAs in Toronto, visit Business Improvement Areas – City of Toronto.

Partnering with City Divisions and Agencies to Support Small Businesses

EDC works closely with other City divisions and agencies to support the development and implementation of City policies, programs, services, partnerships and events that support small business success and vibrant main streets. Key recent initiatives include:

Small Business Property Tax Sub-Class

In 2022, the City introduced the small business property tax sub-class, which provides a 15% reduction in the municipal tax rate and a matching 15% reduction in the provincial education tax rate for eligible small business properties.
Information: https://www.toronto.ca/services-payments/property-taxes-utilities/small-business-property-tax-subclass/

CaféTO

First introduced in the summer of 2020, the CaféTO program provides restaurants and bars in Toronto with the opportunity to expand their outdoor dining space through sidewalk and curb lane cafés. Opening in March 2024, a grant of up to $7,500 is available through this program to owners and tenants of restaurants, bars and cafes in Toronto to improve the appearance and accessibility of patios or café spaces in the right-of-way for which a valid permit has been issued, or on private property.
Information: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/business-operation-growth/business-incentives/cafeto-property-improvement-program/

Other Funding Sources for Small Businesses

Funding for Small Businesses & Competitions

List of financing sources for small businesses and start-ups: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/new-businesses-startups/funding-for-small-businesses/

Accelerators, Incubators & Coworking Spaces

Interactive map of Toronto-based accelerators, incubators and coworking spaces and filter results according to industry and needs: https://www.toronto.ca/business-economy/new-businesses-startups/coworking-spaces/#location=&lat=&lng=

Innovation Canada

Federal assistance programs for small businesses: https://innovation.ised-isde.canada.ca/innovation/s/?language=en_CA