The Spring CIP intake application has closed. CIP Fall intake: Aug. 18, 2025 - Sept. 29, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
In December 2024, Quinte West City Council approved a newly updated Community Improvement Plan(CIP). The CIP consists of five programs to encourage private investment into the CIP Priority Areas, including the following zoning; Downtown Commercial (DC), Corridor Commercial (CC) within the priority zones only, and Recreation Commercial (RC), Agricultural (AG), and Rural (RU) properties with a Tourist Establishment/retail operation.
Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for the City of Quinte West.
A Community Improvement Plan or CIP is a tool that allows a municipality to direct funds and implement policy initiatives toward a specifically defined project area.
Community Improvement Plans are intended to encourage revitalization initiatives and/or stimulate development and redevelopment. Once implemented, the plan allows municipalities to provide tax assistance, grants or loans to assist in the revitalization of lands and/or buildings within the defined Community Improvement Project Area (CIPA).
Program objectives
- To encourage the continued vitality and economic viability of the commercial cores in all seasons.
- To stimulate new investment in public and private lands.
- To encourage consistency in urban design guidelines.
- To create an attractive image of the City that reflects the historic character and heritage of the community.
- To reinforce the commercial cores as a focus for the community.
- Improve connections between commercial areas, the waterfront, and recreational trails and improve pedestrian access within the core areas.
- To provide incentives for rehabilitating the commercial core areas as an attractive and vibrant destination for the City’s citizens and visitors.
CIP Programs
A grant to support aesthetic improvements to the facade and signage of commercial properties in the CIP Priority Area. The Facade Incentive may cover 50% of eligible costs up to a total of $12,500 OR $17,500 for properties with more than one facade. The Signage incentive may cover 50% of eligible signage costs up to $2,500 per property.
A grant to reduce the cost of eligible Building and Planning Fees. Eligible Planning Fees including Zoning By-law Amendments, Site Plan Approval, Minor Variance, Application for Consent, Part Lot Control Exemption and Subdivision/Condominium Agreement may covered 50% up to $3,000 per property. Building Permit Fees can be covered 50% up to $7,000 per property.
A forgivable loan to encourage the significant renovation of existing commercial and mixed-use buildings in the CIP Priority Area, including upper-floor conversions. This loan may cover 50% up to $25,000 per project, forgivable over five years at an annual rate of 20%.
A grant to assist property owners with the financing of accessibility improvements to ground floor or upper storey units. Eligible costs can be covered 50% up to $5,000 per project.
Program 5: Multi-Stream Comprehensive Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG)
A grant that will reimburse a portion of the increased Municipal property taxes as a result of a (re)development that meets City strategic priorities. This grant may equal up to 75% of the Municipal Property Tax Increment over a set period of time or dollar limit, per Council approval. This program includes three streams:
A. New Commercial (applicable area Downtown and Commercial
B. Non-Urban Tourism-Related Uses (applicable area: City-wide, Zoning RC, A, RU only)
C. Hotel Development (applicable area: City-wide, Zoning DC, CC only)
Eligibility
The following general eligibility requirements must be met by all applications to any incentive program before being considered by the Review and Evaluation Committee.
- Only properties located within the CIP Area are eligible
- Applications must be received in full during the defined intake period
- Applicants who are in default of any By-law, in property tax arrears, or involved in any ongoing litigation with the City are ineligible. Any applicant that is found in default of any By-law or in property tax arrears will be given the opportunity to correct before proceeding
- At no time will financial support be provided to projects retroactively, including applicants that proceed with an application of proposed works that has not yet been approved
- Assistance is aimed at commercial use, existing, or proposed through development or redevelopment in standalone or mixed-use buildings
- Applicant must meet zoning requirements as noted in each program
CIP Area
Intake Period
The CIP has two defined intake periods. They are as follows:
Spring intake: Feb. 10, 2025 – March 31, 2025 at 3:00 p.m. – CLOSED
Fall intake: Aug. 18, 2025 – Sept. 29, 2025, at 3:00 p.m.
Application process
Any interested parties may complete an Intent to Apply form. Once this has been completed, eligible parties will be provided with the full CIP application to complete and submit with all of the required documentation as per the requirements of the particular program being applied for. The Review and Evaluation Committee will then receive a full and complete application. The final decision will be provided to all applicants within four weeks of the submission deadline. This indicates that any successful applicants may commence their projects.
Intent to apply
Grant Disbursement
In order for the approved applicants to receive the funding for their projects, the projects must be fully completed and inspected by the Building Department. For information on how to book a Building Inspection please visit: LINK and please advise that this inspection is for a CIP project. Once the Building Department has advised that the project is completed to their satisfaction, a cheque in the approved amount of CIP funding will be mailed to the applicant or held at City Hall for pick-up.
Current CIP Projects
Coming soon!
FAQ
The Community Improvement Plan is a planning tool made up of financial incentives to support and encourage private investment into commercial properties and businesses. These incentives help to offset the cost of redevelopment and revitalization for property and business owners.
You may be eligible for CIP funding if you are a business or property owner located within the CIP Priority Area. If you are a commercial tourism operator in the City of Quinte West looking to renovate or update your space and encourage tourism activities, you may be eligible for CIP funding. CIP funding supports physical building improvements, updates, renovations, expansions, retrofits, etc.
Please note the CIP DOES NOT support events or activities.
For more information, please fill out an Intent to Apply Form
The Quinte West CIP allows for stacking the incentives within the program with the exception of the Tax Increment Equivalent Grant.
Any business or property owner who accessed the previous CIP program before 2024 is eligible to apply for the updated CIP program as long as the business or property owner still meets all other eligibility requirements. Grant support is limited to one successful application per program per property during the plan’s life (five years).
CIP applications for eligible work to be completed on properties zoned Downtown Commercial (DC), Corridor Commercial (CC) within the Priority Zones; and Recreation Commercial (RC), Agricultural (AG), and Rural (RU) properties with a Tourist Establishment/retail operation are eligible for CIP funding.
The Building and Property Renovation grant encourages the renovation of existing space including upper storey conversions to residential dwelling units, however residential properties are not eligible for the CIP.
The Intent to Apply Form requires the applicant’s information and a general description of the proposed project. This is reviewed internally to determine basic eligibility requirements. Once the Intent to Apply Form has been reviewed and permitted to move forward, the proponent will be provided with the CIP Application Form. Permission to move forward IS NOT project approval, and any work that is commenced prior to official approval of the CIP Application is no longer eligible for CIP funding.
A proponent who has completed an Intent to Apply Form and is permitted to move forward must complete a CIP Application to be considered for CIP funding. A full and complete CIP Application submission will include a completed application form, the required number of quotes for the proposed work (number of quotes dependent on the incentives being applied for), an image of the area of proposed work, any required drawings of the proposed work, and any other documentation needed for specific incentives.
Once a full and complete CIP Application has been submitted during the designated intake period, the CIP Application will be under review by City staff. During the review process, staff will reach out to the applicant and set up a meeting to discuss the application with the Review and Evaluation Committee. Following deliberation, City staff will advise all applicants of the final decision regarding their application. At the time of official application approval, the applicant may begin any work associated with the project. Any work that has begun before the date of official approval is ineligible for CIP funding. Any applicant that is not approved will be notified at this time.
The CIP funding is a reimbursement following the completion of the CIP project. The applicant is given notice if their application has been approved, and then they may commence the work. Once the work has been completed, the applicant is required to schedule an inspection with a Building Official. When scheduling the inspection, please advise that this inspection is for the completion of a CIP project. When the inspection is completed and all work is determined to be compliant, the Building Official will advise that the project has been completed to their satisfaction and the Economic Development Department will start processing the payment information. CIP funding will be issued in cheque form to be mailed to the applicant or collected at City Hall during normal business hours.
For information on how to book your building inspection visit here.