Shopfront Improvement Program |

SHOPFRONT IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM

WHAT IS THE SHOPFRONT IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM?

The appearance of our town, our businesses and the surrounding streets create a powerful first impression of the southern gateway of the Sunshine Coast.

The Downtown Caloundra Taskforce is undertaking a trial to explore whether working in partnership with local business and property owners would stimulate the revitalisation of commercial building facades in the Downtown Caloundra area.

Landowners and tenant businesses may be able to receive assistance from Council to undertake upgrades to building facades if these upgrades will help revitalise our region and attract high quality new businesses into town.

Landowners and tenant businesses are encouraged to develop improvement ideas that:

enhance the presentation of a building or business
contribute to amenity and a more interesting and exciting street experience
make a creative or unique contribution to the streetscape.
Will include a displayed shop number (if not already present) which will have to adhere to a prescribed specification.

Once ideas have been developed, discuss these with the Downtown Caloundra (CBD) Curator to explore whether any of the associated costs can be meet by Council.

The contribution made by Council cannot exceed 50% of the total costs of the upgrade or $5,000 per building.

WHAT IS A SHOPFRONT?

For the purpose of the Shopfront Improvement Incentive Program, a shopfront is a physical business premises within the CBD area that is on the street level, usually contains display windows and is open to and trades with consumers from those premises.

The applicant must have customers who come to the shopfront in order to purchase goods or services. Examples of on-street shopfronts include, but are not limited to, a café, restaurant, retail store, art gallery, healthcare or service provider, which can be accessed from a street or laneway.

WHAT TYPES OF IMPROVEMENTS CAN I MAKE?

Assistance towards costs is available for long-term, street-level improvements to your shopfront. These can include:

Repainting of external shop frontage
Improvements to advertising signage if part of a broader shopfront enhancement project
Adding external materials and treatments that provide attractive detail, such as texture or tiling
Improving accessibility for all users
Adding greening elements such as planting vines, green walls or window boxes
Improvements to frontages to interact with the street, such as the addition of folding windows
Removal of security shutters and replacement with glass or security glazing
Improvements to under awnings
Removal of fixed outdoor dining furniture (including planter boxes) and replacement with non‐fixed furniture
Internal and external display lighting.

The Shopfront Improvement assistance is not available for:

Improvements that have already commenced or completed
Routine maintenance or cleaning
Standalone advertising signage improvements
Fixed planter boxes or furniture
Purchase of buildings or property extensions
Business relocation
Internal shop fittings including display shelves and painting
Staffing or operational costs
Development Application or other statutory fees

If you think your shopfront can be improved in other ways, call us to discuss your ideas. We would also welcome proposals where a number of nearby businesses would like to collaborate to enhance collective street appeal.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Under the pilot shopfront assistance, business located in the areas highlighted yellow on the map (Phase 1) are eligible to apply for a Shopfront Improvement Incentive. Other areas will be considered for assistance should the pilot prove successful.

Properties owned or managed by Sunshine Coast Council or a State or Federal Government agency are not eligible to receive assistance under this Program.

Council procurement policies will be applied to any costs met by Council.

WHEN CAN I APPLY?

The 2019 Shopfront Improvement Incentive Program opens May 2019 with ongoing assessments until the budget for the pilot is expended.

WHAT IS THE APPLICATION PROCESS?

Note: Council may contact you following receipt of your application to discuss the project or to request additional information. If your proposed improvement requires Development Approval you will be asked to submit a Development Application (fees apply). Applications are assessed on their merits and there is no guarantee that Council approve a contribution towards the costs of your project.

SHOPFRONT IMPROVEMENT INCENTIVE APPLICATION FORM

Name:
Business Name:
Address:
Postal Address (if different from above):
Phone:
Email
Are you:	A leaseholder	The building owner
Please outline the proposed improvements to your shopfront: Please use additional space if required

Please attach a photo of the shopfront, highlighting the proposed improvements.
Please attach two written quotes for the proposed works from the relevant contractors.
Do you have the building owner’s permission to undertake these works? Note: You will need to provide this in writing if your application is successful.
Yes I have the building owner’s permission			No, I do not have the permission yet