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These little yellow notices have recently been sprouting up like mushrooms around the city. Under the Commercial Façade Improvement Program for BIAs, business owners in designated Business Improvement Areas can receive funding of up to $10,000 ($12,500 for corner lots) from the city to upgrade the front of their premises. In at least one case, the only visible change in the façade over 6 months has been the posting of the yellow sign. Other popular uses thus far include installing new signage for franchise operations. We're proud that our tax money is working hard to raise the profile of Pizza Nova in the community.
The program is not available for private residences, so you’ll have to pay for your own holiday wreath again this year.
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A local pizza place (King Slice near Dundas and Bloor) got one of these grants, and they seemed to go a long way with it, adding a sliding glass door so they can link the patio with the inside, and some general redecorating.
Judging from the application form, businesses do need to submit a plan and it is pretty clear that the money can only be used for what they plant to do. If you think Pizza Nova is cheating, you should report them.
The reason for my snarky tone is not that Pizza Nova is cheating, since signage is clearly within the parameters of acceptable usage for program funds. For me it's more about why a franchise operation that's part of a good-sized international company is able to use my tax money for what's essentially advertising.
On the other hand, I'd be more than happy to throw in a couple of bucks to help them come up with a new jingle.