Community Improvement Program

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Community Improvement Program Image

 

Hanover intends to realize its economic development vision of being ‘Open for Business’, while ensuring our goal of creating a progressive and evolving framework for long-term prosperity. This CIP program is meant to enable and boost development momentum not only for Hanover, but across the region by offering targeted incentives across the Hanover settlement area. Along with facilitating the revitalization and improvement of the Town of Hanover, the CIP program provides a menu of incentives to promote and support the following types of development and revitalization projects (in line with many of the priorities outlined at the County of Grey level), including: 

  • Increasing attainable housing stock, including secondary suites, multi-unit housing, purpose built rental housing, rooming house developments and apartment dormitory style developments;
  • Promoting the redevelopment and/or conversion of brownfield, vacant, and grey field properties;
  • Supporting downtown revitalization of store fronts, publicly used frontages, and streetscapes;
  • Supporting the adaptive re-use and improvements of commercial, industrial and institutional buildings;
  • Assisting new business startup through interior leasehold or accessibility improvements for commercial space or live/work space;
  • Encouraging upgrades and investment in destination infrastructure and promoting intensification in targeted areas;
  • Enhancing public/private partnerships to clean-up and/or rehabilitate priority and municipally-owned and acquired sites; and
  • Assisting the business community in job creation.

 

Community Improvement Program (CIP) Application 

Town of Hanover Community Improvement Plan 2020-2030 

 

Additional Benefits 

Hanover Downtown Improvement Area (DIA) 
Properties within the defined downtown area will receive an additional 10% of the approved grant amount up to a max of $2,000 for facade, building & signage and accessibility improvement grants. 

Saugeen Economic Development Corporation (SEDC)
Approved applicants are eligible to access a business improvement loan to provide 50% of matching funds for projects, up to $20,000 with a 5% interest rate and flexible repayment terms.

 

Process 

  • Review the set of financial incentive programs outlined in the Community Improvement Plan and the included Financial Incentives Overview of the CIP Application.
  • Book a consultation with the Plan Administrator:
    April Marshall, Economic Development Manager
    t: 519-364-2780 x1253
  • Acquire applicable proposals, estimates and sketches for the intended work. 
  • Complete and submit the application. 

 

FAQ's 

How do I know if my property can apply?
The Community Improvement Project Area includes the Town of Hanover in its entirety. Properties within the Town boundaries are qualified to apply. 

Eligible applicants must be either the owner of the property, an agent for the owner of the property, or the tenant of a property to whom the owner has provided written consent for the application.

The property owner must not have outstanding tax property arears and must be in good standing.

Can I apply for more than one incentive?
The incentive programs made available under the CIP may be used individually or may be combined, subject to the exceptions outlined under specific program details and eligibility criteria.

What funds are available for the incentives?
Council will establish an annual overall budget for financial incentive programs and may allocate all or a portion of funds to individual programs.

How do I access incentives and when do they need to be completed?
In order to be eligible for any incentive program, an application form must be submitted to the Municipality (via the Plan Administrator) prior to commencing any community improvement works. Complete applications must be submitted and approved prior to application for planning approval and/or building permit, as may be required, and prior to commencing community improvement works.

When is the Deadline to Submit an Application?
Eligible applications will be awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis (with priority being established in the order that applications are received). A number of sites within the Project Area have been targeted to receive priority treatment in the event of multiple competing applications seek to take advantage of the limited financial resources available and shall receive first priority in the queue.

How will I know if I have been approved?
All applicants will be notified in writing regarding the status of their grant application upon review. Upon approval, the applicant must enter into an agreement with the Town of Hanover.

When will I Receive Funds?
Upon completion of construction, it is the property owner’s responsibility to arrange for a final inspection by a Town of Hanover inspector. Original paid invoices must be submitted. Funds will be advanced in full when construction has been completed in accordance with the program application and grant agreement to the satisfaction of the Town. A statement of all invoices, including final cost of construction should be submitted to the Town to determine proper completion of the project. Should final costs come in less than applied for, the grant will be recalculated to reflect final costs.

History

Launched in 2014, the Facade Incentive Program has supported a diverse and creative range of projects that have made a significant contribution to the vibrancy of our downtown. The Town of Hanover has invested approximately $235,000 into the grant incentive program that has resulted in over $800,000 in improvements to Downtown properties. Through all intakes, a 3:1 private public investment has been made with a majority of the money being retained in the community. 

In 2020, the entire Town of Hanover was designated to be covered by the Community Improvement Program (CIP) and the menu of incentives was enhanced to target specific types of growth and investment.