Downtown property and business owners in Medicine Hat will soon have access to city funding to help cover the cost of security upgrades, after council unanimously approved a new grant program this week.

The Downtown Enhancement and Safety Grant makes $70,000 available in 2026, offering a 50 per cent matching contribution between $250 and $5,000 per eligible project. Applications open April 13 on the City of Medicine Hat's Economic Development webpage at medicinehat.ca, and will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until funds run out.

Eligible improvements include exterior security lighting, fencing, shutters, shatter-proof glass, bars, gates, and cameras. Other enhancements may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

The numbers behind it
The grant didn't come out of nowhere. A city survey found 43 per cent of downtown businesses had been hit by vandalism or mischief, with nearly a third of those experiencing it more than once. Over 70 per cent of businesses in the core said they wanted the city to act on crime prevention through environmental design.

"While the problem is not limited to the downtown, it is particularly acute in the downtown," said Coun. Bill Cocks.

Not everyone agrees with the boundaries
The program drew pushback over its geographic limits. Coun. Ted Clugston raised concerns about businesses outside the core being left out of the funding.

"I just would say if I was on Kingsway, or even Eighth Street in Crescent Heights, I would go, 'Where's my share to help me with my security problems?'"

Acting city manager Joseph Hutter acknowledged the tension. Staff had focused the funding downtown after reviewing a crime map at a Community Resilience and Inclusivity Task Force meeting, but he left room for the idea to grow. "There are certainly some strong arguments that this could be expanded to other areas," he said.

Mayor Linnsie Clark agreed the program could evolve. "Perhaps this could be viewed as a bit of a trial and then tweaked and broadened if that is the will of council."

Who qualifies
To be eligible, applicants must own the property they're applying for, hold a current business licence, and have no outstanding debts with the city including taxes, utilities, or other municipal charges.

Council also approved a separate $30,000 to bring in a third-party provider to improve downtown cleanliness, part of a broader push to address conditions in the core.

Applications open April 13 at the City of Medicine Hat's Economic Development webpage at medicinehat.ca