Spruce the Bruce Community Development Program Now Open

Bruce County’s Community Development program, Spruce the Bruce, is now accepting applications. The program provides grant funding to maintain and grow local downtown businesses and communities.
Spruce the Bruce logo

Bruce County’s Community Development program, Spruce the Bruce, is now accepting applications. The program provides grant funding to maintain and grow local downtown businesses and communities. Grant criteria and applications can be reviewed online at sprucethebruce.com. 

Grants available for commercial properties located within downtown cores: 

  • Façade Building Improvement
  • Fascia Signage
  • Perpendicular Signage
  • Awning
  • Patio Installation 
  • Community Marketing 


Note: Properties must be located within a downtown Community Improvement Project Area (CIPA) identified in an active Community Improvement Plan (CIP).

Grants available for eligible municipalities, community partners, not-for-profits, and charitable organizations: 

  • Community Marketing
  • Streetscape Beautification
  • Community Signage
  • Destination Infrastructure and Active Transportation.


Note: Communities must have a community brand toolkit in place to be eligible.

In addition, eligible businesses and properties within the municipalities of Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, Northern Bruce Peninsula, and South Bruce can apply to the following grants*: 

  • Agri-food Innovation
  • Business Accessibility Adaptability
  • Product and Experience Development 
  • Residential Improvement


“Bruce County’s Spruce the Bruce program works with local businesses, municipalities and community partners to support the revitalization of buildings and properties, public spaces, and experiences,” says Bruce County Warden Chris Peabody. “Together with our businesses and partners we are creating a livelier and more vibrant Bruce County.” 

Funding is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and Bruce County will fund 50 per cent of the total project cost, excluding taxes, up to a set maximum amount per grant. Properties that have received Spruce the Bruce funding in past years may be eligible for funding in 2024 for projects

Bruce County is invested in our local and future residents, businesses and communities. The Spruce the Bruce program helps to build healthy and vibrant communities by offering resources to maintain and grow commercial areas and public experiences.

Learn more and apply today.

*Brockton Council endorsed an updated Municipal-wide CIP in 2022, Arran-Elderslie, Northern Bruce Peninsula, and South Bruce Councils endorsed updated Municipal-wide CIPs in 2023, all of which provide policy for additional grants to be awarded. In 2024, Bruce County is supporting municipalities in updating their CIPs, which will allow their eligible businesses access to these four specific grants.

For program information connect with:  
Lindsey Glazier
Business Development Coordinator, Planning and Development
Bruce County
226-909-2860 or lglazier@brucecounty.on.ca

Bruce County is an upper-tier municipality in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, made up of 8 lower-tier municipalities and 73,396 residents. The explorers who visit, live, and work here are the dreamers who take roads less travelled and see tried and true as an invitation to try something new. Be an Explorer and call Bruce County home.