Community Improvement Plan

The Community Improvement Plan (CIP), adopted in 2004, provides a variety of financial incentive programs to encourage development/redevelopment in five (5) project areas in the City of St. Catharines. The "Community Improvement Plan, Office Consolidation, August 2010" includes background information, the incentive programs, a map showing the five (5) project areas and the process charts relating to the tax programs.

Click here to download the June 2011, Community Improvement Plan Office Consolidation

The grant programs are intended to stimulate private sector investment in rehabilitation activities in the Community Improvement Project Areas.

The following grant programs are offered:

• Residential Conversion and Intensification Grant
• Residential Construction Grant
• Façade Improvement Grant
• Brownfield Financial Tax Assistance
• Brownfield Tax Increment Based Incentive Grant
• Tax Increment Based Incentive Grant
• Municipal Application and Permit Fees Refund

Click here to download a brief description of each of the Financial Incentive Grant Programs as well as the Application Form

Community Improvement Plan Update

General Committee, at its regular meeting on Nov. 7, 2011, approved the recommendations in a report from Planning Services regarding an update to the City's Community Improvement Plan and related financial incentive grant programs. In concert with the report, Council specifically asked for inclusion of comments on accessibility.

An information session will be held on Friday, Nov. 25 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. in Committee Room 1, at City Hall to discuss potential changes to the City's Community Improvement Program.

Click here for more information