The Thames Centre Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is aimed at fostering community development. The CIP directs funds and policies to specific areas to encourage revitalization and development. It provides financial incentives, such as grants and loans, to eligible landowners and tenants for property improvements. Unlike other municipal plans, the CIP focuses on stimulating economic growth and redevelopment, addressing local needs, and enhancing the built and social environment. The plan also includes strategies for implementation, marketing, and monitoring to ensure its effectiveness.
Thames Centre Community Improvement Plan
CIP Funding Programs
Tax Increment Grant
This grant is to help offset increases in property taxes due to improvements. It may provide applicants with an annual rebate on the municipal property taxes. It is intended to reimburse the owner for part or all of the tax increases resulting from the completion of eligible improvements and is calculated as a percentage (up to 100%) of the increase in municipal property taxes from “pre-development” to “post development”.
Facade Improvement Grant
This grant encourages improvements to existing building facades to promote an attractive, active, and pedestrian-friendly streetscape, which may assist to improve the overall character and aesthetic of their building, while contributing to the establishment of an overall sense of place and identity within the CIP area.
Landscaping Grant
When it comes to site development/redevelopment, landscaping can not only help add beauty and interest to a site and the surrounding area, but it can also contribute on a functional level by reducing water runoff and providing shade, for example. The overall intent of this grant is to encourage the incorporation of good landscaping in overall site design, which in turn may increase and improve the public/quasi-public green spaces within the Municipality.
Commercial Conversion/Rental Housing Grant
This grant is to assist in the small-scale conversion of existing vacant or underutilized buildings into new commercial, rental housing units, mixed-use and/or other eligible uses. It may help support the establishment of new businesses, and the growth of existing businesses within the Municipality, thereby increasing consumer options, employment opportunities, and commercial tax assessment. It is also intended to support improvement to existing rental housing units, introduce more housing options, and increase the available supply of rental housing for current and future residents.
On-farm Business/Tourism Diversification Grant
This grant aims to support local agriculturally related uses by providing retail opportunities for local foods or produce. It is anticipated that the program may assist in the rehabilitation of existing agricultural buildings or their adaptation specifically for commercial (including tourism) and industrial uses or other Value-Added/ Agriculture-related activities such as on-farm retail. The grant may also support the development of semi-permanent or seasonal kiosks/stands along Arterial roads (as designated in the municipal Official Plan), and with direct access to such Arterial roads.
Building, Property & Accessibility Improvement Grant
This grant is intended to extent the useful life and viability of the existing building stock in Thames Centre. To provide for safe, usable, and more energy efficient, sustainable, and accessible spaces. It focuses on functional building improvements and applies to interior spaces as well as exterior spaces, such as patios. It may apply to structural repairs, interior restoration and design, improvements to building infrastructure such as roofing, windows, and doors, and weather and floodproofing. It also encourages the installation of energy efficient building systems (Energy StarTM rated windows and doors, renewable energy, or energy savings technology such as motion censor lighting, smart heating/cooling systems, etc.). This may also apply to climate change adaptation/mitigation projects, including floodproofing. Property owners are encouraged to pursue low impact, sustainable developments, and global standards in green buildings such as “LEED” (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certifications for their projects. It also applies to the construction of ramps, automatic door systems or entrance modifications to improve overall property accessibility.
Planning And Building Permit Fee Grant
This grant is to help offset the planning and building fees required by the Municipality.
Sign Improvement Grant
This grant encourages the improvement of commercial signage to promote an attractive, active, and pedestrian-friendly streetscape, and one that reflects a cohesive vision for the Municipality.
Application Process
- Applicants must discuss their application with the CIP Administrator prior to submitting their application. This is to discuss eligibility, identify application requirements, and to ensure that applicants make use of all available funding opportunities.
- The CIP Implementation Staff may evaluate all applications and supporting materials in a timely manner. Applicants may be notified if their submission is incomplete.
- Based on the evaluation of complete applications, the CIP Implementation Staff may make a recommendation to Council.
- For applications that are approved, a Financial Assistance Agreement may be prepared and executed by the CIP Implementation Staff or CIP Administrator and signed by the property owner or tenant (with consent of the owner)
- If an application is not approved by the CIP Implementation Staff, the applicant may be provided an opportunity to appeal the decision to the Council. In such cases, Council may reconsider the application. If Council approves the application, the CIP Implementation Staff may execute the financial incentive program agreement. An applicant shall not have the option to appeal their application to Council if the reason for refusal is related to lack of funding availability. In the event that an application is refused due to lack of funding availability, the applicant may resubmit their application once funding becomes available. However, in no case shall funding be provided retroactively for a completed project;
- Any program commitments may be cancelled at the discretion of the CIP Implementation Staff if work does not commence within six months of approval of an application, or if a project is not undertaken or completed in accordance with the Financial Assistance Agreement;
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When projects are completed, a statement with supporting invoices shall be submitted to the CIP Implementation Staff or CIP Administrator. Following this, the work may be inspected by the CIP Implementation Staff or CIP Administrator and, if approved, notice of completion may be issued and financial assistance may be initiated.
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Upon completion of a community improvement project, the CIP Implementation Staff or CIP Administration reserves the right to inspect any properties/buildings, or to audit final costs at the owner’s expense.
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Funding approval may lapse if a notice of completion is not issued within twelve months of the date of execution of the Financial Assistance Agreement;
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The CIP Implementation Staff or CIP Administrator may grant an extension for community improvement works following receipt of a written request by the owner setting out the reasons for the extension and providing a new date of completion; and
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Should the applicant fall into default of any of the requirements of the incentive program or other requirements established by the Implementation Staff, incentives may be delayed, reduced, or cancelled and applicants may be required to repay benefits.
Questions Regarding the CIP or Application?
Please contact:
Amanda Storrey
Interim Director of Planning and Development Services
astorrey@thamescentre.on.ca
519-268-7334 ext 249