Community Improvement Plan (CIP) - Grants
Richmond Hill is committed to our businesses and residents, and continues to demonstrate why we are The Smart Place for Business. With increasing demand for office space in Richmond Hill, financial incentives have been created to encourage new office development and re-development through the recently approved Community Improvement Plan (CIP).
The CIP supports and incentivizes new office development in Richmond Hill’s designated centres and corridors and older business parks. It also supports revitalization of the Village by incentivizing façade improvements, enhanced landscaping and new signage.
Purpose of CIP |
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Community Improvement Plan Area (CIPA) |
Applications for CIP programs will only be considered for projects on properties located in the CIPA.
The CIPA boundary includes the following areas, as designated in the Official Plan (2010):
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Grant Programs and Eligibility Criteria
General Eligibility Criteria for All Programs | ||||||
The following are General Eligibility Criteria that must be met by all applications for assistance under the programs set out in this CIP. The General Eligibility Criteria must be read in association with the program-specific eligibility criteria for each program. The General Eligibility Criteria for each application for CIP programs include:
Approval will be based on the merits of each application (i.e. achievement of eligibility criteria). The amount of assistance provided under the CIP programs is subject to and at the discretion of Council and is dependent on the list of eligible costs identified for each CIP program. The total of all grants and tax assistance made in respect of the eligible lands and/or buildings may not exceed the eligible costs of the CIP with respect to those lands and/or buildings. |
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Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) for Office | ||||||
The Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) program for office is designed to support the development/intensification of office (stand-alone or as part of mixed-use developments) across the entire CIPA. The TIEG program leverages the increased assessment and property taxation generated by office development and reduces costs of development by:
This TIEG program focuses on net municipal taxation gain associated with new office development, which would otherwise be unrealized if the office development had not occurred. As part of the program, the property owner/developer pays for the full cost of new office development and the resultant increase in property taxes. The program allows the City to grant back to the owner and/or development and/or assigned recipient, on a declining basis, an amount equal to a portion of the municipal portion of the property tax increase. During the grant period, tax assessment growth resulting from an office development is forgone income for the City. However, at the end of the TIEG program, the grant ceases and the City collects the full amount of property taxes, realizing the full benefit of increased property assessment. The program is structured as follows:
For an illustration of the Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG) and how it works, see page 41 of the approved Community Improvement Plan (CIP). Program-specific Eligibility CriteriaIn addition to the general eligibility requirements for all programs, the following list outlines the additional program-specific eligibility criteria that must be met in order to be considered for a grant:
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Building Renovation Grant Program | ||||||
The Building Renovation Grant program is designed to promote the adaptive re-use of existing structures (industrial, commercial or other) for office in the Village Local Centre, Oak Ridges Local Centre, Newkirk Business Park and Beaver Creek Business Park areas of the CIPA. This grant program has the potential to leverage significant private sector investment in interior building renovations and improvement associated with office uses. The program is structured as follows:
Program-specific Eligibility CriteriaIn addition to the general eligibility requirements for all programs, the following list outlines the additional program-specific eligibility criteria that must be met in order to be considered for a grant:
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Façade, Landscaping and Signage Improvement Grant | ||||||
The Façade, Landscape and Signage Improvement Grant Program seeks to enhance the aesthetic appeal of the Village Local Centre, through façade, public realm and signage improvements, as well as street‐front redevelopment, and any resultant economic spin-off effects. A key goal of this program is to support the achievement of the linked system of courtyards. Under the Façade, Landscape and Signage Improvement Grant Program, matching grants will be offered to eligible property owners within the portion of the Village Local Centre area identified as the Richmond Hill Business Improvement Area (BIA), as determined by Council. The grant is for building facing, rear and front lot landscaping (publicly accessible parts of private properties), exterior signage improvements or any combination of these categories of property enhancement. The program structure is identified below:
Program-specific Eligibility CriteriaIn addition to the general eligibility requirements for all programs, the following list outlines the additional program-specific eligibility criteria that must be met in order to be considered for a grant:
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York Region Incentives for Office Development | ||||||
Office buildings being constructed in York Region could be eligible to defer the full amount of the Regional development charges payable for up to 20 years. The deferral of development charges is interest free and could begin at occupancy.* The Table below highlights options available.
The five to 20-year development charge deferrals are a part of a three-year pilot, limited to a total of 1.5 million square feet of office space.
For more information, program qualification criteria and terms, please visit: york.ca/financialincentives |
How to Apply
To apply, please fill out and email your completed CIP Grant Application Form along with your supporting documents (project description, drawings, etc.) to planning@richmondhill.ca. After receiving your documents, staff will contact you regarding the next steps. Please refer to the CIP Grant Application Guide and the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to help you with your application regarding grant program details, eligibility and submission requirements.
- CIP Grant Application Form
- CIP Grant Application Guide
- Richmond Hill Office Development and Downtown Local Centre - CIP (Official Plan)
- York Region Incentives for Office Development
For more information about the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) and if you have any questions, please contact ecdev@richmondhill.ca.