Business Activation Fund

Downtown Van is excited to announce the “Business Activation Fund” for storefront businesses to leverage major events happening in Vancouver!

PURPOSE

The Business Activation Fund is designed to help businesses access the economic benefits of major events by supporting eligible projects relevant to business activation or programming around major events.

Businesses may apply for up to $2500 in reimbursement for their project or expenses.

Major events elevate the city’s profile while generating significant interest and attracting visitors from outside the Downtown Van district. They range from one-off international sporting events, conventions, or cultural events to smaller but annually programmed activations.

This intake focuses on Major Events which include include but are not limited to Invictus Games, Juno Awards, seasonal and statutory holidays (Lunar New Year, etc.), “mark the month” activations such as Black History/Futures Month, etc., and pop-up activations relevant to the business’ culture.

Apply now

ELIGIBILITY

You must be a Downtown Van member (apply here) with a street-level business in a commercial building located within the Downtown Van boundaries.

Downtown Van may promote your project on Business Activation Fund-related resources, on our social media channels, and/or to downtown visitors.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS AND EXPENSES INCLUDE:

Examples of projects, programs, or eligible business expenses include, but are not limited to, thematically relevant proposals of the following:

Special programming and activations, such as pop-ups (e.g. karaoke, trivia nights, in-house contests).

Menu or product development or R&D (e.g. feature cocktail or zero-proof drink, purchase of materials or ingredients).

Storefront beautification or special displays (e.g. vinyl stickers, signs, window-front decoration).

Marketing and promotion services related to any of the projects. E.g. designing or printing labels and flyers, project-specific boosted social media posts.

Operational overhead costs – such as payroll, rent, or insurance – will NOT be reimbursed.

Please note: The above list is non-exhaustive. Other expenses may be eligible if they meet the purpose of the Business Activation Fund. Do NOT use these funds for the creation or sale of bootleg merchandise.

PROJECT CRITERIA

Applications will be assessed based on a balance of the following criteria:

Business and economic impact: Strategic business objectives, street-level impact.
Project viability: The applicant has the staffing and expertise to deliver the project and is ready to begin the project upon funding approval.
Project creativity and relevance to major events: The project should directly relate to and enhance the experience of major events for visitors and customers. Preference may be given to creative and innovative ideas that provide unique experiences or products related to the major event in focus.
Marketing and promotion: The project will be able to engage or appeal to targeted visitors and the community.
Project timing: The project or activation must take place on (and around) the relevant dates.

Preference may be given to projects with a longer operation or activation (i.e. having weekly trivia nights instead of a one-time event or having a new menu item available starting a month before the event dates).

Please review resources on Canadian trademark law. Conduct your own independent research to ensure the Project does not infringe on any trademarks. Comply with licensing requirements. The Business is responsible for complying with trademark requirements. Downtown Van will not be liable for losses arising from any cease-and-desist orders issued because of projects that violate trademark or copyright.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications for the Business Activation Fund will be accepted on a rolling basis from Friday, November 15th, 2024, through to Friday, March 7th, 2024, or until all resources are exhausted. The proposed usage of the fund must take place during this time frame.

Step 1: Submit your application

Applications will be reviewed on a first-come first-served basis and will be approved by the Downtown Van Business Activation Fund committee. Successful applicants may expect to be notified within 14 days of submission.
We will only accept one (1) application per business.
Each application may include more than one project (i.e. karaoke night AND trivia night, menu item AND window display or lighting), to the maximum of funding.

Step 2: Accept the offer of funding

Upon review and project approval, a Letter of Agreement detailing the terms, conditions, and the amount of funding approval will be issued to successful businesses.
In order to accept the offer of funding, the applicant business must sign and return the Letter of Agreement for countersigning within two weeks of receipt.
If the business does not acknowledge or accept the funding offer within 14 days of Downtown Van sending the offer, the offer will be rescinded and instead made to a business on the waitlist. Downtown Van will make reasonable follow-up efforts to communicate with the business before withdrawing the offer. However, it is the applicant’s responsibility to accept and follow through on the offer of funding.

Step 3: Business programming or projects take place.

Note that all funds from Downtown Van for the Business Activation Fund are reimbursements subject to the fulfilment of terms and conditions.

Step 4: Submit all required documents by Friday, March 7th, 2025.

Required documents include:

Proof of payment – all receipts and/or work invoices for the project
An invoice to Downtown Van for the project work, up to the approved funding amount.
Before and after photos of the project, process, etc.

Step 5: Payment issued from Downtown Van via cheque.

Step 6: Provide feedback

Participant businesses fill out a brief survey to provide feedback on the process and usefulness of the funds, and share outcomes of the business activation.

FAQs:

Permits and Regulations

All improvements must comply with the City of Vancouver regulations.
If approval from a property owner is required, a copy of the approval letter must be provided along with any applicable permits to Downtown Van when submitting other outlined required documents.
Any required City of Vancouver permits must be issued before any activations or events begin.

Fund Reimbursements

Funds will only be given to projects that fall within a reasonable timeline of the event.
If the final project costs and receipts total less than $2500, Downtown Van will only reimburse for eligible final costs.

Application Process

Downtown Van reserves the right to reject an application if it does not align with the purpose of the Major Events Business Activation Fund.
Due to anticipated application volumes, Downtown Van will only be able to contact successful applicants.
Any information you choose to share with us is strictly confidential and will be used purely for the purposes of this application.

Downtown Van is committed to supporting the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation of the diverse community of member businesses in our district. We encourage applications from business owners and operators who self-identify as a member of an underrepresented or historically marginalized group of people. These include, but are not limited to local First Nations, Urban Indigenous, Black, persons of colour / of the global majority, LGBTQ2S+, youth, newcomers, and people with disabilities.

If you have additional questions about this program, please contact Ingrid Valou, Economic Development Manager (ingrid@dtvan.ca)