Community Improvement Plan

Agriculture Value-Added Grant Program

Purpose:

To promote development or improvement of agricultural, agricultural-related and on-farm diversified uses within the Township.

Grant Amount & Disbursement:

Matching grant of up to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of $7,000, whichever is less, per property.

The Grant will be disbursed as follows:

• 100% on Final Completion

Eligible Costs:

The construction or improvements to uses permitted by the Guidelines on Permitted Uses in Ontario's Prime Agricultural Areas, including but not limited to:

• Produce stands;
• Cheese factory;
• Bakery;
• Signage;
• Agri-tourism and recreation uses (e.g., hay rides,

• corn maze, petting zoo, equine events, seasonal
• events); or
• Any other use as approved by the Township.

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum improvement cost: $1,500.00
• Applicants will submit design drawings, architectural or engineering plans, and a work plan indicating proposed improvements, and a cost estimate for the works.
• The grant will be paid based on the actual cost of the work, up to the amount approved in the application.
• All completed drawings/plans must comply with the description of the work plan as provided in the grant application form.

Signage Improvement

Purpose:

To promote the undertaking of signage improvements

Grant Amount & Disbursement:

Matching grant of up to 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of $4,000, whichever is less, per property.

Eligible Costs:

The grant will be disbursed as follows:

• 100% on Final Completion
• Improvements to or placement of new building or

• free-shipping signage including:
• Graphic design of signage;
• Sign materials and construction;
• Sign lighting; and
• Any other signage-related work as approved by the Township.

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum improvement cost: $1,500.00
• May apply to multiple signs, up to the maximum allotted per property.
• Applicants will submit design drawings indicating proposed signage improvements, and a cost estimate for the works.
• The grant will be paid based on the actual cost of the work, up to the amount approved in the application.

Façade Improvement Grant Program

Purpose:

To stimulate private investment in the existing commercial areas of the Community Improvement Project Area and to promote the undertaking of building façade improvements.

Grant Amount & Disbursement:

Matching grant of up to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of $7,000, whichever is less, per property;

This grant will be disbursed as follows:

• 100% on Final Completion

Eligible Costs:

Improvements to the Front or Corner Side Façades designed specifically to enhance the look and appearance of these elevations of the property including:

• Restoration of the brickwork or cladding, including
• exterior painting;
• Replacement or repair of cornices, eaves, parapets,
• windows, doors, and other significant architectural
• details;
• Repair, replacement, or addition of awnings,
• marquees, and canopies;
• Repair, replacement, or addition of exterior lighting;
• Street furniture related to façade;
• Modifications to the entranceway; and
• Any other work as approved by the Township.

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum improvement cost: $2,000.00
• Applicants will submit design drawings, architectural/ engineering plans, and a work plan indicating proposed improvements, and a cost estimate for the works.
• The grant will be paid based on the actual cost of the work, up to the amount approved in the application.
• All completed drawings/plans must comply with the description of the work plan as provided in the grant application form.

Accessibility Improvement Grant Program

Purpose:

To promote the undertaking of building accessibility improvements in the Community Improvement Project Area

Grant Amount & Disbursement:

Matching grant of up to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of $7,000, whichever is less, per property;

The Grant will be disbursed as follows:

• 100% on Final Completion

Eligible Costs:

Provision of accessibility improvements, including:

• Installation of wheelchair ramps;
• Installation of automatic doors;
• Installation of other accessibility improvements
• external to the building; and
• Any other work as approved by the Township.

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum improvement costs: $2,000
• Applicants will submit design drawings, architectural/ engineering plans, a work plan indicating proposed improvements, and a cost estimate for the works.
• The grant will be paid based on the actual cost of the work, up to the amount approved in the application.
• All completed drawings/plans must comply with the description of the work plan as provided in the grant application form.

Landscaping and Parking Improvement Grant

Purpose:

To promote a greener and more aesthetically pleasing streetscape by providing for landscaping and parking area improvements.

Grant Amount & Disbursement:

Matching grant of up to 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of $5,000, whichever is less, per property.

Eligible Costs:

Site improvement works/materials, including the following:

• Resurfacing and line painting;
• Street furniture for the parking area or landscaped

• areas;
• Labour;
• Professional fees;
• Purchase and/or installation of landscaping materials (excluding annual planting materials); and
• Any other work as approved by the Township.

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum improvement cost: $1,000.00
• Applicants will submit design drawings, landscaping/site plans, a work plan indicating proposed improvements, such a cost estimate for the works.
• The grant will be paid based on the actual cost of the work, up to the amount approved in the application.
• All completed drawings/plans must comply with the description of the work plan as provided in the grant application form.
• The Township reserves the right to request additional plans or studies, such as lot grading plans, drainage plans, and stormwater management plans.

Commercial Roofed Accommodation

Purpose:

To promote and encourage the conversion of existing homes to Bed & Breakfasts, Motels, Hotels, and Inns.

Grant Amount & Disbursement:

Matching grant of up to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of $10,000, whichever is less, per property.

The Grant will be disbursed as follows:

• 100% on Final Completion

Eligible Costs:

The construction or construction costs associated to the conversion of existing buildings, including but not limited to:

• Building materials
• Labour;
• Professional fees; and
• Any other work as approved by the Township.

Additional Requirements:

• Applicants will submit design drawings, architectural or engineering plans, and a work plan indicating proposed improvements, and a cost estimate for the works.
• The grant will be paid based on the actual cost of the work, up to the amount approved in the application.
• All completed drawings/plans must comply with the description of the work plan as provided in the grant application form.

Brownfield Rehabilitation

Purpose:

To encourage the remediation, rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of brownfield sites by providing grants to help pay for additional rehabilitation costs normally associated with brownfield sites.

Grant Amount & Disbursement:

Matching grant up to a maximum of 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of $10,000, whichever is less, per property.

The Grant will be disbursed as follows:

• 100% on Final Completion

Eligible Costs:

Eligible costs relate to reducing the concentration of contaminants on, in, or under the subject property to permit a record of site condition to be filed in the Environmental Site Registry under Section 168.4 of the Environmental Protection Act. Eligible costs include costs for:

• Phase III Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) and Risk Assessment Plans (except where such a cost has been included as pat of an issued Environmental Study Grant);
• Environmental remediation costs, including any action taken to reduce the concentration of contaminants on, in or under the property to permit a Record of Site Condition to be filed in the Environmental Site Registry under Section 168.4 of the Environmental Protection Act;
• Costs related to complying with any certificate of property use issued under Section 168.6 of the Environmental Protection Act;
• The costs of preparing a Record of Site Condition;
• Placing clean fill and related grading;
• Installing environmental and/or engineering controls or works, as specified in the Phase III ESA and/or Risk Assessment Plan;
• Monitoring, maintaining and operating environmental and engineering controls/works, as specified in the Phase III ESSA and/or Risk Assessment Plan; and
• Environmental insurance premiums.

Additional Requirements:

• For a property to be considered for the Brownfield Rehabilitation Grant Program, a Phase II Environmental Site Assessment must have been conducted for the site.
• Applicants will submit design drawings, landscaping/site plans, a work plan indicating proposed improvements, and a cost estimate for the works.
• The grant will be paid based on the actual cost of the work, up to the amount approved in the application.
• All completed drawings/plans must comply with the description of the work plan as provided in the grant application form.
• The Township reserves the right to request additional plans or studies, such as lot grading plans, drainage plans, and stormwater management plans.

Municipal Application/Permit Fees Rebate Grant Program

Purpose:

To stimulate private investment in properties in the Community Improvement Project Area by reducing applicable municipal fees related to a CIP improvement project which improves the façade, signage, accessibility, parking areas, or landscaping, or provides residential units.

Grant Amount & Disbursement:

Building Permit Fees: up to 50% reduction in building permit fees; up to a maximum of $2,500.

Signage Permit Fees: up to 100% reduction in sign permit fees; up to a maximum of $500.

Demolition Permit Fees: up to 100% reduction in demolition permit fees; up to a maximum of $500.

The Grant will be disbursed as follows:

• 100% upon completion of the work

Eligible Costs:

Grant applied to:

• Building permit fees for improvements related to a CIP improvement;
• Signage permit fees;
• Demolition permit fees to demolitions related to CIP improvements; and
• Landfill fees.

Additional Requirements:

None

Tax Increment Grant Program

Purpose:

To stimulate private investment in the CIP Project Area and to promote the undertaking of building improvements and development on vacant land.

Grant Amount & Disbursement:

The total amount of the grant provided will not exceed the value of the work that resulted in the reassessment.

This grant excludes the education and County portions of the tax bill. The Township is only able to rebate the municipal portion of the tax bill.

The grant is provided over 5 years, where the tax increase is paid back to the applicant as follows:

• 100% rebate in year 1
• 80% rebate in year 2
• 60% rebate in year 3
• 40% rebate in year 4
• 20% rebate in year 5

The owner is paying based on the full assessed amount in year 6.

The Grant will be disbursed as follows:

• 100% after payment of taxes, once the property has been reassessed by MPAC, following completion of the CIP project

The Township will collect the full amount of property taxes owed by each of the years of the program's applicability and will issue the grant to the approved applicant after final tax bills for each year have been collected. If the tax bill is not paid in full, the Township will cancel all future grants and collect past grants made as part of this program.

The grant will not be provided based on a graduated reassessment by MPAC if done prior to completion of the project.

Eligible Costs:

Any improvements to properties/buildings in the CIP project areas which meet the CIP goals, objective, and design guidelines.

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum increase in assessment: $25,000, directly related to a building permit for CIP improvements.
• The Tax increment Grant may be received by a property owner and/or assignee in combination with any other incentive program offered by the CIP.
• Property owners and/or assignees will be required to submit a complete application to the Township describing, in detail, the improvements that are planned. The application must be submitted to the Township and approved prior to the improvements being made in order to be eligible for this program. The Township will review the application to ensure that the improvements are eligible. For the purpose of this program, eligible improvements are deemed to be improvements that will lead to an increase in the property's assessed value by improving the physical condition of the building and/or property in a manner that is consistent with the CIP's intent.
• Projects are required to be in compliance with the Township's other By-laws and policies, including zoning and building regulations.
• The subject property shall not be in a position of tax arrears or any other financial obligation towards the Township.
• This program does not exempt property owners from an increase in municipal taxes due to a general tax rate increase or a change in assessment for any other reason after property has been improved, except by reason of an assessment appeal.
• The grant will be forfeited and repaid to the Township if the owner makes the decision to demolish or alter the property in a manner that does not comply with the Community Improvement Plan before the grant period elapses.
• If the property is sold prior to completion of the project and receipt of the grant, subsequent owners may re-apply to the Township to be eligible to receive the grant.
• If the property is sold after completion of the project, and while the tax increment grant is being received, the grant expires upon transfer of ownership. Subsequent owners are not eligible to continue receiving the grant for the tax increase associated with the project which has already been completed.
• The grant amount will be established after the final inspection of the improvements in accordance with the Ontario Building Code, and the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) has established a new assessment value based on the building permit for the CIP project.