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Beauty and business: Grants available for downtown revitalization!

A beautiful, vibrant, safe downtown is good for Terrace and good for tourists
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The Terrace Downtown Improvement Area (TDIA) is boosting tourism and business through public art and grants for businesses. Visit tdia.ca to learn more!

A vibrant, bustling downtown is good for local businesses and it’s good for Terrace. It makes the downtown a fun, safe space for residents to gather, and boosts the local economy.

Dave Gordon, Board Chair for the Terrace Downtown Improvement Area (TDIA) says one way to revitalize the downtown is through art.

“Murals and public art drive positive traffic into the downtown core. They give tourists a reason to pull off the highway and check out our local businesses, which is especially important after this difficult year.”

The TDIA has partnered with the Skeena Salmon Art Fest Society and local downtown property owners to fund gorgeous murals, street sculptures, hanging baskets and pole banners, with more art projects in the works. About ten murals have already been painted, with another ten coming soon.

“We have such a strong artist community in the Northwest, it’s been easy to reach out and connect with talented professionals. We’re supported by grants from Heritage Canada and the BC Arts Council so we can pay these professionals the rates they deserve, and encourage them to stay in town and earn a living,” Gordon says. “Every mural so far has been absolutely fantastic.”

TDIA is also installing three more sculptures this year, plus there are thousands of dollars in TDIA grants available to downtown businesses for revitalization projects.

The TDIA is offering grants to downtown businesses for facade and security improvements. Chances (left) and Benson Optical (right) have already taken advantage of the program, and you can too!
The TDIA is offering grants to downtown businesses for facade and security improvements. Chances (left) and Benson Optical (right) have already taken advantage of the program, and you can too!

Downtown Facade Grants

Downtown businesses can get help paying for a facade face-lift, thanks to grants from the TDIA. The changes can be big, like a whole new front entrance for storefronts and retail downtown, but they can also be simple like a fresh coat of paint or a new sign. Lighting, siding, awnings, accessibility improvements and other work that’s part of a larger facade improvement project can also qualify!

Reimbursement grants are available up to a maximum of $5000 per project, made possible with the financial support of Northern Development Initiative Trust, the City of Terrace and the TDIA.

Find all the details and apply here.

Security Grants

Apply for a matching grant of up to $500 to enhance your building’s security with lighting, cameras or environmental design. Download the application form here.

“In 2019 we partnered with the City of Terrace to pay for private security patrols downtown, and we continue to evaluate and adapt to ensure safety and security for everyone downtown,” Gordon says.

TDIA is a stand alone nonprofit organization, managed by a volunteer board of directors. Learn more at tdia.ca or follow them on Facebook.

The TDIA is offering grants to downtown businesses for facade and security improvements. Chances (left) and Benson Optical (right) have already taken advantage of the program, and you can too!
The TDIA is offering grants to downtown businesses for facade and security improvements. Chances (left) and Benson Optical (right) have already taken advantage of the program, and you can too!
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“Murals and public art drive positive traffic into the downtown core. They give tourists a reason to pull off the highway and check out our local businesses, which is especially important after this difficult year,” says Dave Gordon, Board Chair for the TDIA.