A New Model for Local Manufacturing
Our mission: to help Canadians work, create, and produce locally — with government-funded retrofits, equipment, and training.
Key Features:
Funded retrofits for safety, power, and ventilation
Tools and equipment grants (starting with freeze-dryers)
Training and mentorship via Makers Connect
National network of home-based micro-enterprises
How It Works: Transforming Your Garage
Apply Online — Turn Your Space Into a Shop
Our team will review your space, confirm eligibility, and guide you through the process. You don’t need to be a business owner already — we welcome innovators, hobbyists, and anyone with an idea.
What You’ll Get:
A pre-assessment checklist for your garage’s condition
Details on available funding and equipment grants
Support from local Makers Connect representatives
Retrofit & Setup — Funded Upgrades for Your Workspace
Once approved, your garage will be evaluated by a certified retrofit team to ensure it meets safety, electrical, and environmental standards.
The Government Retrofit Grant covers the costs of:
Electrical and ventilation upgrades
Insulation and workspace safety improvements
Installation of approved equipment (starting with freeze-dryers)
This process ensures your shop is safe, efficient, and compliant with local bylaws — at no cost to the homeowner.
Launch Your Business — Create, Produce & Thrive Locally
Once your shop is operational, you’re ready to start producing and earning. Sell directly through the Makers Connect platform, local markets, or your own channels. Your garage can become:
A food preservation hub (freeze-dried goods, herbs, or snacks)
A crafts or fabrication studio
A repair, recycling, or green manufacturing station
As more GarageShops launch, entire communities gain new income streams, reduce waste, and build stronger local economies — one garage at a time.
The GarageShops Advantage
GarageShops.ca is unique because it leverages what Canada already has: millions of garages, skilled workers, and the will to innovate.
Our key advantages:
Uses existing infrastructure (low environmental footprint)
Aligns with green retrofit and small business funding priorities
Scalable, measurable, and community-based
Builds digital and physical skills capacity across the country
People & Community
GarageShops.ca is about people — the makers, innovators, and families who transform their garages into engines of opportunity.
Through Makers Connect, we offer mentorship, digital access, and business development tools.
Our local chapters connect participants with training programs, retrofit professionals, and municipal support networks.
Together, we’re creating a community of builders who share knowledge, support each other, and strengthen the social fabric of every neighborhood.
Interested in joining the movement — as a participant, policymaker, or investor?
Let’s build the next chapter of Canadian small business, together.