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Invest Well
In 2018 The County of Wellington approved its first ever County-wide Community Improvement Programme (CIP) and branded the initiative “Invest Well”. The Invest Well Community Improvement Programme establishes a framework for support and implementation of programmes that will allow the County to participate financially in local grant and loan programmes aimed at revitalizing, beautifying, and attracting investment in Wellington.
What is the Community Improvement Programme?
A Community Improvement Programme (CIP) is intended to encourage rehabilitation initiatives and stimulate development. A CIP allows the County to provide tax assistance, grants or loans to assist in the rehabilitation of lands and buildings within the defined Community Improvement Project Area.
Goals and Objectives
Through the County-wide CIP, Wellington County provides leadership in community improvement planning by offering incentives to eligible owners and tenants of lands and buildings in key sectors and areas of economic activity. The County’s Invest Well Programme works together with the Member Municipal Community Improvement Plans.
The Invest Well CIP Programme is based on countywide goals, guided by priorities identified in the Official Plan, Economic Development Strategy, Business Retention and Expansion findings, the Taste Real programme and the Investment Attraction Strategy. Countywide priorities include:
- Use Land Strategically
- Provide Rental Housing
- Improve Building Infrastructure
- Diversify the Economy
- Promote Tourism
Request the Invest Well Community Improvement Programme document
Grants Available
| Invest READY Incentives |
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Invest READY aims to help prepare properties that have a high potential for development/ redevelopment by making them development ready. Phases of Invest READY include: Pre-Development Design/ Study Grant Eligible costs:
Incentives: Financial funding up to 100% of the total value of eligible costs, to a maximum of $20,000 per project and/or property. The County provides funding independent of member municipality participation. Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) Eligible costs: Costs as a result of a redevelopment, adaptive reuse, building rehabilitation, or retrofit work such as:
Incentives: Financial funding which is equal to the County portion of a property tax increase that is incurred as a result of a major community improvement project. Grant value ranges from 100% coverage of the County portion tax increment in year one to 20% in year five. County funding is dependent on the member municipality participating financially through its own local CIP TIEG plan. |
| Invest MORE Grant |
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The Invest MORE Grant aims to support a broad range of improvements to existing buildings/properties and contribute to the overall beautification and revitalization of built-up areas. Eligible Costs Funding is offered to cover:
Example costs include:
The County may decide to include additional improvement costs that meet the five CIP priorities. Incentives Financial funding up to 50% of the total value of eligible costs, to a maximum of $20,000 per project and/or property. County funding is dependent on the member municipality sponsoring and endorsing the Applicant’s project financially through its own local CIP. Note that the Invest MORE Grant will not be provided to Applicants receiving the Invest Well TIEG through the member municipality’s local CIP. |
Who Can Apply
Rural and urban businesses and owners who plan to:
- Improve the use of their land through redevelopment, infill, and intensification;
- Provide rental housing in downtown areas;
- Improve building infrastructure, efficiency, aesthetics, and accessibility;
- Diversify the economy in key areas such as on-farm/agriculture uses, manufacturing, health, and creative sector;
- Promote tourism through enhancements to local experiences, services, and accommodations.
You could receive up to $20,000 project/property basis. Examples of project eligible costs include construction designs, rental unit retrofits, and building an outdoor dining patio.
How to Apply
Step One: Contact your municipality to apply for local and County grants.
| Local Contacts |
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Step Two: Explore loan options with your Community Futures Development Corporation.
Step Three: Start your project! Grant payments are made when projects are complete.
Member Municipal Community Improvement Plans
| Township of Centre Wellington |
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The Township of Centre Wellington has adopted a comprehensive CIP that is intended to encourage revitalization and redevelopment in its Urban Centres. |
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Town of Erin |
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The goal for the Town of Erin's CIP is to stimulate economic development and contribute to the municipality as a business friendly community and that we are “Open for Business”. |
| Guelph Eramosa Township |
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The purpose of the proposed Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is to provide a framework to revitalize and reshape public and private land in defined Community Improvement Project Areas (CIPAs). It will allow the Township to provide financial incentives to encourage the enhancement of existing built-up areas, diversity business types and investment opportunities, and enhance connectivity within the Township and to adjacent communities. |
| Township of Mapleton |
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Mapleton's CIP provides a series of municipal funding incentives in order to stimulate physical improvements within their defined Project Area. The overall intent of the CIP is to revitalize Mapleton and strengthen the economic base of the community. |
| Town of Minto |
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The purpose of the amended CIP is to provide a framework to guide public sector investment and stimulate private sector investment in the Town of Minto within the urban communities of Harriston, Palmerston and Clifford.
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| Township of Puslinch |
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The Township of Puslinch Community Improvement Plan is intended to:
The CIP project will result in a comprehensive, strategic, and flexible framework for local improvements to public and private properties throughout the Township. |
| Township of Wellington North |
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The CIP provides a framework to encourage the rehabilitation of commercial, industrial and institutional buildings and their facades, improvement of commercial signage, and redevelopment of vacant and under utilized properties and buildings. This update builds on the initial Wellington North CIP (2011), an amendment adding a CIPA for Kenilworth (2014), and now broadens to include urban centres, hamlets and rural areas located within the Township.
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Completed Community Improvement Programme Projects
For more information on the County of Wellington's CIP, contact Economic Development by calling 519.837.2600 x2611 or via e-mail.
