Community Improvement Plan Grants

In addition to the terms in this section, please see the eligibility requirements for each incentive above.  

3.1 Terms Applicable to all Incentives  

Eligibility 

1. Tenure Type: Unless otherwise noted within this CIP, property owners and tenants are eligible to apply for an incentive. Where tenants are eligible, they will be required to submit written authorization from the property owner.   
2. CIPA: Any property within the Community Improvement Project Areas may be eligible, subject to the eligibility of the specific incentive and its associated use.  
3. Land Use: Property eligibility may be dependent on the existing and proposed use of the property or building. Definitions of land or building uses for the purposes of eligibility are defined in the CIP Glossary. Where there are discrepancies, the definitions of the Norfolk County Official Plan or Zoning By-law will take precedence.  
4. Multiple Incentives: Applicants may apply for multiple incentives for singular or multiple projects, up to the maximum grant amount, where all criteria and conditions are met. Where an applicant wishes to carry out multiple projects on the same property, only one application shall be necessary. 
5. Single Party Agreement: Only one party can be issued an agreement for the same project or property (e.g. owner and tenant). An exception may be made, at the discretion of the Director, where two or more distinct applicants wish to carry out separate projects for distinct buildings or businesses operating on the same property, wherein the property owner has issued written approval for each tenant’s application. In these cases, the maximum total grant amount per property still applies.  
6. Agreement Transfer: If an agreement has been signed and then the property changes hands, the agreement would be transferrable to the new property owner.  
7. Multiple CIP Funding Cycles: Applicants may apply for multiple incentives for a single property over the course of several CIP funding cycles (years) up to the maximum grant amount per property.  
8. Application Required: All Applicants shall submit an application for the CIP incentives. Applications include a detailed proposal and at least two (2) estimates for consideration. Work completed before an application is approved or an agreement is executed are not eligible.  

Application  

9. Non-Retroactive Application: Applications must be submitted prior to the commencement of project work. Costs for work completed prior to application submission are not eligible.  
10. Pre-application Meeting: Prior to submitting an application, Applicants are required to meet with the Director, or designated staff, to discuss their project and application requirements.  
11. Required Documentation: Submission of drawings and/or plans may be required as part of the application. Applicants may be required to submit supplementary materials, such as a business plan or technical reports for their project. The individual incentives, preconsultation with Norfolk County staff, and the application form will identify information required to specify an application, including circumstances where plans are required to be stamped by a qualified professional (e.g. architect, engineer, designer).  
12. Peer Review: Upon review of applications and submitted materials, Norfolk County staff may choose to have a third party technical expert review documentation to confirm eligibility.  
13. Approvals Sought: As part of application submission, and with the assistance of the Director, or designated staff, the Applicant is responsible for contacting other utilities and agencies (e.g. utility providers, Conservation Authority) that may have to approve the development.  
14. Completeness: the Director, or designate, have full discretion to deem that an application has included all required components and is complete. Applications cannot be approved until deemed completed.  
15. Application Timelines: Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Norfolk County reserves the right to change the application window or application receipt process at any time.  

Approval 

16. Review: The Director, or designate, shall review each application to ensure the eligibility of the Applicant and shall approve successful applications in accordance with the provisions of the Policy. 
17. Priority Applications: All applications will be reviewed and evaluated. If the budget remaining for the year is insufficient to fund all applications on hand, projects demonstrating the greatest overall impact to the community (i.e. job creation and total capital investment) will be chosen for approval.  
18. Public Disclosure of Information: Information regarding the grant amount issued, the nature of the project and photographs thereof, the total investment of the project by the private sector, and the address of the property to which the grants are associated are all public information that may be included in promotional material and/or in a media release. Applicants will be required to allow this information to be released to the public and to participate in public reviews of the program in future. 

Agreement  

19. Agreement: Approved Applicants will be required to enter an agreement with Norfolk County specifying the terms of the grant. Terms will include the total amount of the grant, entitlement if conditions change, the Applicant’s obligations, defaults on agreement, and provisions for audits. Work completed before an agreement is executed are not eligible. 
20. Amendment: Executed agreements, including conditions of the agreement, may be amended by the Director, where changes are agreed upon in writing and an amended agreement is executed by all applicable parties.   
21. Encroachments: Where a sign, awning or lighting projects onto the municipal road allowance, the grant will be conditional upon the Applicant entering into an encroachment agreement with Norfolk County. 
22. Conditions: By signing the Application Form, all Applicants that are approved to receive a grant have entered into an agreement with Norfolk County agreeing to abide by the conditions of this CIP. 
23. Conditions not Met: If the Applicant does not comply with all conditions of the agreement and other relevant municipal requirements, the grant funds will not be paid.  

Expiration  

24. Approval Period: Written confirmation of the commitment will be given and will be valid for twelve (12) months.  If eligible improvements are not completed within this time, the commitment may receive a justifiable extension to a maximum of twenty-four (24) months, at the Director’s discretion. 
25. Extension: Requests for extension of the approval term may be submitted and are subject to approval by the Director.  
26. Program Discontinuation: Norfolk County may discontinue or cancel a program at the sole discretion of Council. 

Project Completion  

27. Inspection of Project: The Chief Building Official, or designate, will inspect and approve improvements of the building upon completion, as required. 
28. Evidence of Completed Work: Norfolk County may undertake an audit of work completed and associated costs if it is deemed necessary. 
29. Consistency with Proposed Project: For the grant to be paid, the final project must be significantly consistent with the project outlined at the application stage. Otherwise, the Director, or designate, may refuse to issue a grant. 
30. Demolition Forfeits Grant: If a building is demolished prior to the completion of the related work, the grant is forfeited and will be recovered by Norfolk County. 

Maximum Grant  

31. Total Incentives Amount: Where a property and project are eligible for multiple incentives, the total financial incentive in the form of all grants for an individual property shall not exceed $20,000 (twenty thousand dollars) per calendar year. This excludes the Brownfield Tax Increment Grant, which may be provided in addition to another grant, provided the total assistance provided by all grants does not exceed the total project cost.  
32. Multiple Incentives: Incentives are not meant to preclude an Applicant from being eligible for any other grant, loan, or incentive programs offered by other agencies or as part of future years of this or another CIP.   
33. Incentive to not Exceed Costs: The total amount of all financial incentives approved, including the Brownfield Tax Increment Grant, may not exceed the total cost of the eligible project.  

Works Already Begun  

34. Non-Retroactive: Grants are not applied retroactively to works started or completed prior to an application. Costs for work completed prior to application submission are not eligible. 

Compliance with Policy and Applicable Law 

35. Legal Requirements: Any project and all works undertaken through this CIP shall meet all applicable legal requirements of Norfolk County and any other agency. This includes conformity to Norfolk County policies and plans and compliance with By-laws, including but not limited to Norfolk County’s Zoning By-law and Property Standards By-law.  
36. Project Compliance: All works approved through the Community Improvement Plan shall comply with all Municipal policies and standards, including Official Plan policies, design guidelines (if any), and heritage matters, and will be subject to planning and development approvals and building permits pursuant to the Ontario Building Code and any other applicable laws. 

Tax Arrears or Other Charges  

37. Ineligibility: Properties and buildings are not eligible if they have tax arrears, legal claims, liens, or any other orders, charges, or claims which may adversely or abnormally affect the titles of the property, other than mortgages in good standing. An exception to this may be approved for Environmental Remediation Grants. 
38. Disclosure: If lands or buildings have any tax arrears or any other legal claim, lien or order that may adversely affect title of the property, other than a mortgage in good standing, this information shall be disclosed by the Applicant when applying. 

Transferability  

39. Non-Transfer to Property: Unless otherwise specified, approved grants allocated to a specific property are not transferrable to another property.  
40. Transferability to Owner: Unless otherwise specified, approved grants may be transferred to a new owner/operator of an approved property, provided the new owner meets and agrees to the terms and conditions of the grant or loan.  
41. Liens: Norfolk County may register a lien on the property.  

Grants Payable Upon Project Completion 

42. Project Completion: Unless otherwise specified, grants will be advanced to the Applicant upon the full completion of the works, final inspection and approval, and/or issuance of any required certificates, to the satisfaction of Norfolk County. Progress payments will not be made, unless otherwise specified.