Business Façade Improvement Program

Inner West Council has established a competitive grant program to support businesses seeking to improve the appearance of their shopfront.

The new Business Façade Improvement Program will help relieve some of the financial pressure that businesses face when looking at making improvements to their shopfronts.

Applicants can apply for a one-off matching grant of up to $5,000 to be used to improve the visual appeal of their business façade including improving disability access. There are five grants in all, up to a total of $25,000.

What is the Business Façade Improvement Program?

Inner West Council knows how important it is for our high streets and villages to be welcoming and appealing. Council introduced our main street revitalisation program to enhance the look and feel of the main streets to make the more inviting for residents and visitors. This contributes to the economy by creating a welcoming place for people to come, shop and play. To build on this work the Inner West Council is offering funding for local businesses who want to improve the appearance of their street level shopfront.

The Business Façade Improvement Program seeks to:

  • Support local businesses by providing additional resources to enhance shopfronts.
  • Stimulate local economic activity by attracting more visitors and customers to local businesses by enhancing the visual appeal of shopping areas.
  • Promote community engagement and activation by encouraging community pride, showcasing creative shopfront design that reflects the character of the local area.
  • Enhance public spaces by creating a more vibrant and welcoming streetscape and improving the visual appeal and attractiveness of shopfronts in prominent locations.

Applicants can apply for a one-off matching grant of up to $5,000 (inclusive of GST) for eligible projects. This means businesses must also contribute $5,000 of their own money to undertake minor works to their shop front. Funding for approved projects is paid directly to the applicant upon completion of façade works and on verification that the businesses has also expended the agreed amount for the works.  

Who can apply?

Eligibility is restricted to businesses within the Inner West local government area that are situated in a prominent main-street shopping centre whose shopfront has being assessed by Council officers to be overdue for uplift. Businesses must have a long-term lease in place and be able to provide matching funding will be eligible to apply. Business owners and/or tenants (with owner’s consent) of each street level property that fronts a main street with the Inner West Council Local Government Area are eligible for funding. 

What types of projects can be funded?

Likelihood of success increases with the development of an approach that includes local creatives, and other general criteria include:

  • Engaging local creatives to update the design of a façade, including muralists, artists and/or designers (as applicable to the property and proposed improvements)
  • Installation of window decal designed by local artists to enhance visual appeal.
  • Repairs to awnings or lighting that increase pedestrian and shopfront safety.
  • Street level façade improvements (e.g. external painting, the reinstatement of heritage features, minor window works and new signage).
  • Façade enhancements that are sensitive to character of the main street.

It is proposed to target the program only in areas that would benefit the most from this form of investment that is shops whose facades really need an uplift and are taking away from the look and feel of key business centers.

What types of projects will not be funded?

Council will not fund the following:

  • Works already commenced or completed at the time of application.
  • Works that require consent under a Development Application and where that consent has not yet been approved by Council or other Consent Authority.
  • Routine maintenance or interior work (e.g. carpet cleaning, cleaning of gutters, cleaning of facades).
  • Any work that would not improve the appearance, detail, fabric or finish of the premises.
  • Any work that is not in keeping with of Council’s development controls, plans or policies.
  • Any work that would preclude more worthy applications from being funded.

Application process

Businesses would apply for funding through Council’s annual grant program using the SmartyGrants process. Businesses must make a matching financial contribution and provide evidence of this. Grant will only be provided on verification that the businesses has undertaken works and has contributed the agreed amount towards the works.

Staff will ensure that the assessment process includes a weighting be applied to multicultural businesses and businesses owned by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business operators, proposals that include the employment of local creatives and that the program is evenly distributed across the five wards. An assessment panel will be established that includes an independent from a local business chamber.

Apply online

The grant application process will open on Monday 9 February 2026. A link to the application form will be published on this page at that date.

Contact

If you have any questions about this program, please contact Simon Watts, Social and Cultural Planning Manager on 9392 5971 or on email simon.watts@innerwest.nsw.gov.au

Page last updated: 19 Jan 2026