by Rachel Everett-Fry, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Municipality of North Grenville is working to enhance development downtown.
The Downtown Kemptville Community Action Plan (DKCAP) and Community Improvement Plan (CIP) offer a number of financial programs to enhance Downtown Kemptville that are now open for intake.
Mayor Nancy Peckford expressed that as other areas of North Grenville experience intense residential and commercial growth, “this plan will help to create the conditions for downtown Kemptville to be a key destination in North Grenville.
” In October of 2020, the vacancy rate for commercial units in the downtown area was only 13%. However, some of those vacant spaces are large units: the former Victorian Pantry, former Scotiabank, and former North Grenville District High School. The goal of this program is a, “focus on connectivity and people, aiming to encourage more development in the core.”
Developments in the Community Improvement Plan Area are now eligible to access the four following incentive programs to ease the development process:
The Façade & Signage Grant covers 50% of the cost, up to $10,000, of improvements to the frontage of buildings.
The People Make the Place Grant offers $5,000 per residential unit created within a multi-unit building.
The Building Fees Grant covers up to $2,500 in building fees in multi-unit residential developments.
The Tax-Increment Equivalent Residential Grant reimburses the municipal portion of the incremental property tax for new multi-unit residential developments.
It should also be noted that The Development Charges Exemption is, and will remain, in place for downtown until March 2021.Until funds are exhausted, intake is on a rolling basis.
For more information, visit www.investnorthgrenville.ca or contact Strategic Initiatives Coordinator Hillary Geneau at hgeneau@northgrenville.on.ca
