Petawawa Community Improvement Plan (CIP)
Grant supports for Petawawa businesses and commercial property owners.
The Town of Petawawa has an endorsed Community Improvement Plan (CIP). This is a great opportunity for the area businesses, property owners, and landlords to obtain support to improve and revitalize their commercial spaces.
This plan provides for financial incentive programs for eligible applicants to seek matching financial aid, within limits, for select property improvements.
If you are interested in submitting an application for a CIP please review the program document and contact the municipal development officer. Pre-project consultation is the first step to advancing any request under this program.
NOTE: Council may at their discretion focus on certain grants during a given timeframe or discontinue approving applications for certain grant programs. All grants are subject to funding availability under the CIP program envelope which is approved annually during the municipal budget process. As such support can only be extended as long as funds are available in any given year.
Accessibility Improvement Grant
The Accessibility Improvements Program is intended to assist businesses with improving the accessibility of their buildings in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.
This may include improvements such as, but not limited to, the installation of automatic door openers, widening public entryways, or installing wheelchair ramps.
Eligible costs under this program may be incurred pre-development, or where redevelopment or improvement to an existing building or property is proposed. The program will be administered as a grant.
This program covers 50% of approved project costs up to $5,000.
Brownfield Redevelopment Grant
The Brownfield Redevelopment Grant program is intended to encourage the remediation, rehabilitation, and redevelopment of brownfield sites in the Town. The program will provide grants to help pay for additional rehabilitation costs normally associated with brownfield sites, including required environmental studies to understand potential contamination of the site.
This program covers 50% of approved project costs up to $5,000.
Building Facade Improvement Grant
The Building Façade Improvement Grant Program is intended to promote rehabilitation, restoration, and improvements to façade elements of existing buildings that promote high-quality design that are consistent with the existing character of the Town.
Proposed or existing commercial businesses shall be eligible for this program.
Eligible facades shall only include front, side or rear facades that are visible from the public street. The Town shall have discretion regarding which facades are eligible based on funding availability, visibility and other considerations.
This program covers 50% of approved project costs up to $5,000.
Commercial Retail Market Study Grant
The Commercial and Retail Market Study Grant program is intended to provide financial assistance to property owners to undertake market studies to support and inform permanent commercial or retail business opportunities. This grant is not intended to support temporary retail or commercial business opportunities, including temporary mobile market structures.
This program covers 50% of approved project costs up to $5,000.
COVID-19 Relief Grant
The COVID-19 Relief Grant Program is intended to provide financial assistance for business owners to undertake physical modifications to meet COVID-19 health and safety requirements and enable them to reopen or increase business operations.
This program covers 50% of approved project costs up to $2,500.
Green Initiatives Grant
The Green Initiatives Grant Program is intended to assist businesses with undertaking green initiatives that improve energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources.
This program is intended to encourage and promote green buildings and environmentally friendly interior and exterior design within the Town.
This program covers 50% of approved project costs up to $5,000.
Landscaping and Parking Area Improvement Grant
The Parking Area and Landscaping Improvement Grant Program is intended to assist with optimizing the quality of off-street parking and promote a greener and more aesthetically pleasing streetscape by providing for landscaping and parking area improvements.
Proposed or existing commercial businesses shall be eligible for this program.
Eligible parking and landscaped areas shall only include front, side or rear parking or landscaped areas that are visible from the public street. The Town shall have discretion regarding which parking or landscaped areas are eligible based on funding availability, visibility and other considerations.
This program covers 50% of approved project costs up to $5,000.
Planning, Building, and Demolition Fee Grant
The Planning, Building and Demolition Fee Grant Program is intended to offset the cost of Town planning application fees, building permit fees and demolition permit fees incurred through the development application and approval process. This program will reimburse a portion of eligible costs including applicable planning application, building permit and demolition permit fees.
Only Town fees, with the exception of development charges, are eligible for this program. This program will be administered as a grant.
Eligible businesses include those proposed or existing commercial businesses that shall be eligible for this program.
Eligible Development Projects
The potential grant value used to offset the costs of planning application fees, building permit fees, and demolition fees shall be calculated on the basis of applications related to the following:
1. Development of a vacant property for mixed-use or commercial uses containing at least four dwelling units.
2. Redevelopment of a vacant property for mixed-use or commercial uses containing at least four dwelling units.
3. Major additions to a commercial or mixed-use property, involving an increase of at least 25% of the existing gross floor area of the building;
4. Infrastructure work including the improvement or reconstruction of existing on-site public or private infrastructure to support building expansions or the establishment of new mixed-use or commercial uses;
5. Major improvements to parking areas, such as reconfiguration of parking areas;
6. Costs related to environmental site assessments and required environmental remediation; and
7. Any combination of the above.
The grant for this program is variable.
Signage Improvement Grant
The purpose of the Signage Improvement Grant Program is to encourage and facilitate the improvement of signage in the Town, including the installation of permanent signs that replace existing temporary signage structures.
The program is intended to promote new, attractive signage that contributes to the visual identity and character of the Town.
This program covers 50% of approved project costs up to $5,000.
Tax Increment Equivalent Grant
The Tax Increment Equivalent Grant Program is intended to encourage and facilitate significant rehabilitation and redevelopment of existing properties and buildings and the development vacant lands. This program provides a grant equal to a portion of the Town taxes attributed to the increased assessment over a 5-year period. The difference in municipal tax assessment pre-development and post-development is known as the “increased assessment value” (or “tax increment”) and shall be the portion eligible for a grant under this program. The program does not apply to County or Provincial property taxes.
The program will be administered as a grant. The grant will be issued upon completion of the eligible works on an annual basis for a period of 5 years on a depreciating basis.
The potential grant value shall be initially calculated based on the value of the increase in the assessed value and taxes on the property associated with the development, redevelopment or rehabilitation of commercial, office or mixed-use buildings.
For clarity, increased assessment (taxes) are not “eligible costs” but represent a basis for calculating the grant.
The following shall be deemed to be eligible costs for the purpose of this program:
- The development or redevelopment of a commercial, office or mixed-use building where the development, redevelopment or rehabilitation project results in an increase in the assessed value and taxes on the property;
- Adaptive reuse of a property to suit a new commercial, office or mixed-use building;
- Major additions to a commercial, residential or mixed-use building involving an increase of at least 25% of the existing gross floor area;
- Infrastructure work including the improvement or reconstruction of existing on-site public or private infrastructure to support building expansions or the establishment of new uses;
- Professional services by an engineer, architect, or professional planner;
- Costs related to environmental site assessments and required environmental remediation;
- Energy efficiency improvements; or
- Any combination of the above.
This is a stand-alone grant and can not be used in conjunction with any of the other grants.
Temporary Mobile Market Grant
The Temporary Mobile Market Grant program is intended to support the establishment of temporary entertainment, retail and gathering spaces in Town. The program will provide financial support for businesses to use underutilized commercial properties, such as parking lots, or public park spaces. Sites within public park spaces shall be required to follow Town development processes and obtain Council approval under separate authority.
The market spaces are intended to be temporary building units which can be relocated and do not required municipal services (e.g water and sewage).
Eligible proposals are required to adhere to the Town of Petawawa Pilot Container Market Development Guidelines
This program covers 50% of approved project costs up to $7,500.
Business Development Events
National & Provincial Business Development Resources
There are a number of National and Provincial resources and funds which can provide aid to entrepreneurs. Whether you are a young student with a business idea, a veteran who is looking to create a business start-up or a female business owner with expansion plans, these resources may be of interest to you.
General Resources
Government of Canada Business Benefit Finder is a website resource with many listed grant opportunities.
Province of Ontario Small Business Access is a website resource with many listed grant opportunities.
The Business Development Bank of Canada is the only exclusive bank devoted to entrepreneurs. This resource and its team of representatives can assist entrepreneurs with the creation of a business plan to finance terms to mentoring services.
The Canada Small Business Financing Program is a Government of Canada program, administered through Industry Canada, that can provide entrepreneurs with capital to purchase or expand a business.
Youth/Young Entrepreneur Resources
Summer Company is a Government of Ontario program, eligible for young Ontario entrepreneurs aged 15 – 29 who wish to start a new independent business and are attending school. This program provides non-refundable financing in allotments to first-time eligible applicants who spend a pre-determined amount of time on their business depending on their school status.
Futurpreneur Canada offers financing, mentoring, and expertise to get your start-up off the ground. If you’re 18-39 and ready to launch a business, Futurpreneur Canada can help.
Service Personnel Entrepreneur Resources
Veteran’s Guide to Starting a Business is a great resource full of insight and connective links that specifically cite support for veterans seeking to go into business for themselves. This resource has been created by Best Accounting Software.
Women Entrepreneur Resources
Fed Dev Guide for Women in Business
Paro is a not-for-profit social enterprise that collaborates to empower women, strengthen small businesses, and promote community economic development across Ontario.