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Community Improvement Plan

HomeBusiness and DevelopmentCommunity Improvement Plan
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Aerial photo of Port Hope downtown looking east towards rural Port Hope

The Port Hope Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a series of funding incentives available to property owners and business owners within the Downtown CIP Area. These incentives encourage redevelopment of aging buildings and provide funding for various projects.

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How do I apply?

Simply contact our Economic Development Coordinator by email to discuss your proposed project. We will advise you of the programs that you may be eligible for and guide you through the application process. We accept funding applications on an ongoing basis.

Complete your CIP Pre-Application Form
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Am I eligible?

• You must be the property owner or have explicit permission from the property owner
• Project must not have been started as you cannot apply for funding once you have applied for the building permit
• Commercial properties within the CIP Area

Download CIP area map

Exterior of Furby House BooksDid you know we have a Downtown Heritage Signage Program as part of CIP?

Are you ready to update your Port Hope Downtown Commercial Signage? You could be eligible for funding! Furby House Books is an excellent example of a heritage sign that meets a number of the criteria requirements: 

  • Carved/molded traditional legible lettering

  • Historic paint colour palette

  • Visual distinction between shopfront and upper floor

Learn more about our signage program

CIP Program Incentives

The Downtown Community Improvement Plan includes multiple incentives. All grants may be “stacked” or applied for together, with the exception of the Tax Increment Grant Program and the Development Charge Grant Program.

Downtown Heritage Signage Program

Are you ready to update your Port Hope Downtown Commercial Signage? You could be eligible for funding!
How to Apply:

  1. Email us regarding interest in updating signage
  2. Plan signage design that complies with Port Hope Downtown Design Guidelines. Email us for a copy.
  3. Complete and submit 
    • CIP Pre-Application (Once this application is approved, you can move forward with the permits below)
    • Sign Permit
    • Building Permit
    • Heritage Permit Application
    • Road Occupancy Permit 
  4. Once all permitting has been issued and approval has been given by Council or Designate, proposed work may commence. After completion, proof of payment may be submitted and a cheque totaling the approved grant amount will be disbursed. 

Urban Design Study Grant Program

The Urban Design Study Grant Program offers a grant equal to 50% of the cost of an urban design study, professional architectural and design drawing(s), and/or heritage impact assessment to a maximum grant of $3,000. Only one Urban Design Study Grant application per property or project is permitted.

Façade Improvement Grant Program

The Façade Improvement Grant Program offers a grant equal to 50% of the cost of eligible front, side and rear façade improvement and restoration works to a commercial, institutional and mixed-use buildings. There is up to $12,500 available for front facades and up to $7,500 for side and rear façades.

Building and Property Improvement Grant Program

The Building and Property Improvement Grant Program has two components:

  1. promoting building improvements
  2. promoting parking area and landscaping improvements

The building improvement component offers a grant equal to 50% of the cost of eligible interior and exterior building works to commercial, institutional and mixed-use buildings up to maximum grant of $12,500.

The Property Improvement component offers a grant equal to 50% of the cost of eligible exterior property improvement, such as landscaping and paving, to a maximum grant of $7,500.

Upper Storey Conversion Grant Program

The Upper Storey Conversion Grant Program offers a grant for the following types of projects in the upper storeys of existing commercial, institutional and mixed-use buildings.

Renovating existing residential units to bring these units into compliance with the Building Code, Property Standards By-law, and the Fire Code.

Constructing new residential units or new live, work, or studio space. The grant offered is $15 per square foot to a maximum grant of $15,000 per residential unit, live workspace or studio, and a maximum of four residential units. The grant can be increased to $24 per square foot for affordable residential units.

Brownfield's Tax Assistance Program

The Brownfield's Tax Assistance Program offers the cancellation of Municipality property taxes for up to three years on a property that needs an environmental site assessment and environmental remediation in order to redevelop the property.

Tax Increment Grant Program

The Tax Increment Grant Program offers an annual grant for up to 10 years after project completion to help reduce the property tax increase that can result in larger rehabilitation, redevelopment, infill and intensification projects in the Project Area. This grant is only available to projects that meet the Municipality's minimum performance requirements for a “catalytic project”. If the applicant chooses to apply for this grant, Council will determine if the project meets this criteria.

Please note a property owner must choose between applying for the Tax Increment Grant Program and the Development Charge Grant Program.

Development Charge Grant Program

The Development Charge Grant Program offers a grant that reduces the Municipal Development Charges payable on projects in the Project Area. This grant is only available to projects that meet the Municipality's minimum performance requirement for a “catalytic project”. If the applicant chooses to apply for this grant, Council will determine if the project meets this criteria.

Fees Grant Program

The Fees Grant Program offers a grant equal to up to 100% of the fees paid on planning and development applications, demolitions or building permits, and a range of other permits for projects approved and completed under any of the CIP Incentive programs up to a maximum of $5,000.

Exterior of Ganaraska Brewery

Success Stories

We're proud of our community! Below is a list of locations who successfully applied and completed the CIP process. 

 Completed Projects

The CIP funding has been used by many local business and property owners:

  • 45 Mill Street South (2019 & 2021)
  • 19 Ontario Street
  • 33 Mill Street South
  • 10 Robertson Street
  • 78 Walton Street
  • 26 Ontario Street
  • 24 Ontario Street
  • 24 John Street
  • 26 Walton Street

Aerial photo of Port Hope and the clock tower

How it all started

The municipality implemented a major Downtown Revitalization Project in 2018. Learn about how CIP was created as part of this initiative.

History of the CIP Initiative 

A key part of the Downtown Revitalization Project was the Downtown Port Hope Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The Planning Act and Municipal Act, 2001 provided the legislative basis for municipal community improvement planning. The Act enables municipalities to start community improvement activities to improve the physical landscape, either through municipally-driven or incentive-based programs. We adopted the CIP to help promote the revitalization and redevelopment of our Downtown.

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