IGNACE- The Township of Ignace continues to focus on strengthening its local economy with a Community Improvement Plan. The plan is a set of incentivizing programs to encourage private sector redevelopment in Ignace.
Implemented in August 2018, the Community Improvement Plan provides local businesses with the opportunity to apply for grants directed toward improving conditions in existing urban areas. The most common use of a Community Improvement Plan is to enable grants to assist property owners in making improvements to their private property, including improvements to façades, signage, landscaping, and assisting in the costs of improving historic properties.
Community members that qualify for the Façade Improvement Grant can get 50 per cent of the construction and design costs covered up to a maximum of $5,000.
In addition, the Accessibility Grant will cover 50 per cent of the construction cost related to accessibility improvement around the property up to a maximum of $2,500.
However, there are some cases where the Community Improvement Plan can be used to redevelop underutilized or vacant property sites where some form of contamination to the area has occurred. These areas include former gas stations, dry-cleaning establishments, and industrial sites. One such program is the Municipal Land Disposition Program which allows the sale of municipally-owned surplus lands at up to 90 per cent below market value as long as the purchaser applies for a building permit within two years of purchase.
The Tax Increment Equivalent Grant provides a 100 per cent rebate of the municipal portion of a property tax increment resulting from the redevelopment, building improvements, and new developments. This grant would entice those looking to build affordable housing units within the Township of Ignace.
To find out more about incentive programs, please contact Keith Roseborough at [email protected] or by phone at 934-2202.
This information can be found on the Township of Ignace website at www.ignace.ca.
You can download the complete community improvement plan here: https://ignace.civicweb.net/document/7876 and the application forms.
