One of the key functions of any municipal economic development role is to ensure existing businesses across all industry sectors are supported and well positioned to maintain and grow their opportunities. The Community Improvement Plan is an integral part of the municipality’s Economic Development toolbox.
In 2025, the City of Clarence-Rockland approved a newly updated Community Improvement Plan (CIP) that extends the CIP area to encompass all communities of Clarence-Rockland and lays out opportunities for the municipality to provide incentive-based programs as an economic development tool.
Goals:
Revitalize targeted areas and encourage community change in a coordinated manner;
To encourage private sector investment and strengthen the economic base;
To enhance the visual appearance of Community Improvement Areas;
To redevelop Brownfield Sites;
To ensure the maintenance of the existing building stock;
To promote healthy communities;
To foster improvements in the Commercial lands and in all communities of Clarence-Rockland and Employment Lands in Rockland; and
To ensure high standards of site development throughout the City of Clarence-Rockland.
Explore an overview of the programs below or review the complete document.
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Community Improvement Plan Financial Incentive Programs
Façade Improvement Grant
This grant program is designed to promote façade improvements and to encourage private sector property owners and tenants to implement aesthetic improvements to their commercial property(ies).
The lesser of a matching grant of up to 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $10,000 per property for primary façade improvements.
The lesser of a matching grant of up to 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $15,000 for primary and secondary façade improvements.
Signage Improvement Grant
This grant program is designed to promote improvement to or placement of new building signage.
The lesser of a matching grant of up to 50% of eligible costs or a maximum of $2,500 per property.
Landscaping Improvement Grant
This grant program intends to promote improvement to the outside areas of commercial properties with public access or use to improve their appearance, aesthetics and curbside appeal.
The lesser of a matching grant of up to 50% of eligible costs or a maximum of $5,000 per property.
Building Renovation Grant
This grant program is designed to assist owners of existing commercial and mixed-use buildings with the targeted interior improvements to improve functionality, accessibility and energy efficiency of existing buildings.
The lesser of a matching grant of up to 50% of eligible costs or a maximum grant of $25,000 per property and a minimum grant of $12,500.
Planning Application Rebate
This program offers property owners with plans to develop new commercial and mixed-use (commercial at grade) a grant equivalent to a reduction in applicable planning fees (i.e., Major Zoning By-law Amendment and Site Plan Application fees).
Zoning By-law Amendment Fees: Up to 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $2,000 per property.
Site Plan Application Fees: Up to 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum of $2,250 per property.
Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) Grant
This program is designed to assist privately owned sites for which a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) has been completed. The program helps further specify the extent and nature of environmental contamination through a Phase II ESA study and to develop a Remediation Action Plan.
A maximum individual grant is limited to $20,000 or 50% of the cost of the Phase II ESA, whichever is less. A maximum of two (2) studies per Project are fundable to a maximum $30,000 or 50% of cost, whichever is less.
Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG)
This program is designed to leverage increased property tax assessment and help reduce financial costs of property redevelopment or redevelopment that meets strategic public interests and City goals.
Grant up to 80% of municipal property tax increment over a base tax established by the City (to define the annual increment). Maximum assistance is the lesser of eligible costs over a maximum period of tax increment support 10 years.
Development Charge-Related Grant *Not currently open for applications
A grant is equivalent to a portion of the municipal development charges only. The program is designed to provide assistance for the development of sites within the City’s future Employment Land located in the West Secondary Plan Area, as well as existing and future development designated as Business Park (as defined in the Official Plan of the Urban Area of the City of Clarence-Rockland) by reducing the development cost related to development charges levied by the City.
A maximum grant of $30,000 or 50% of development charges are levied by the city or a maximum, whichever is less.
Get ready to invest, revitalize, grow!
The City of Clarence-Rockland’s Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a fantastic opportunity to enhance your property, revitalize public spaces, and contribute to a vibrant local economy.
Our dedicated staff is here to help you every step of the way. Before submitting your application, be sure to book your required pre-consultation meeting. During this session, we’ll help you:
Understand the grants available to you
Confirm your project’s eligibility
Get expert advice to strengthen your application
We’re committed to helping you succeed—let’s work together to bring your vision to life!
Our first intake period is now closed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Applications which are in default of any By-law of the City of Clarence-Rockland as well as applicants with any property tax arrears, or who are involved in ongoing litigation with the City will be screened from further consideration, until such time as these defaults are remedied.
All applicants shall be in good standing regarding any other municipal fees and levies liable on the property. Applicants will be given the opportunity to reinstate their applications once tax arrears and outstanding municipal bills have been cleared.
To qualify, applicants must also hold a valid City of Clarence-Rockland Business License at the time of application.
A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a tool available to municipalities under Section 28 of the Planning Act. CIPs are vehicles for facilitating revitalization and redevelopment efforts in a defined area(s). To carry out CIPs, municipalities can establish grants, loans, and other programs to encourage private sector investment in development and renovation projects which seek to improve areas in accordance with local goals and priorities.
A CIP establishes an environment that facilitates support for existing business and can play a role in attracting new business. The City of Clarence-Rockland supports economic development and commercial and industrial growth among other key strategic priorities. Through the development of this CIP, key target areas will be reviewed and upgraded to ensure that the city is positioned to support a competitive business environment.
Private property owners and businesses can take advantage of the financial incentive programs contained in CIPs to achieve a range of community improvement goals such as improving property façades and redeveloping property.
The entire City of Clarence-Rockland is designated as the Community Improvement Project Area (CIPA). This includes Rockland, Bourget, Cheney, Clarence Creek, Hammond, and St. Pascal-Baylon.
While including all urban communities there are two priority zones in Rockland and Bourget.
Priority Zone 1: Commercial properties in Rockland located along Laurier Street and designated in Schedule A of the Official Plan of the Urban Area of the City of Clarene-Rockland as Commercial Core Area.
Priority Zone 2: Commercial properties in Bourget Champlain Street in Bourget and designated in the Bourget Official Plan (Bourget OP) as Village Core.
Step 1 - Pre-Application Consultation (mandatory): eligible property owner and tenants are encouraged to read through the application form on the City's website and schedule a pre-consultation meeting with City staff to review any preliminary plans and factors such as program eligibility, scope of work and project timing.
Step 2 - Submit Complete Application (mandatory): Applicants submit a Complete Application on the City’s website. This includes the application form, and ALL supporting documents plus other supplemental information as may be requested by City Staff.
Step 3 - Evaluation of Complete Application: Complete Applications are evaluated by the Economic Development Advisory Committee to ensure compliance with the CIP objectives, property and building standards/permits, by-laws and policies;
Step 4 - Approval: All applications and the Advisory Committee recommendations are subject to approval by Council. If the application is not approved, the city will contact the applicant to discuss revisions and resubmission.
Step 5 - Payment: Payment will be received once all work has been completed and inspected by the City of Clarence-Rockland.
The Community Improvement Plan (CIP) allows you to combine different financial incentives offered through the program, except for the Tax Increment Equivalent Grant, which cannot be used with other incentives.
At no time will financial support through the CIP be provided to projects retroactively. Retroactively means no support for projects that occurred prior to Council approval of the CIP or, when in force, works undertaken without application and then subsequently a retroactive application made or when applicable work has already begun prior to application submission/approval.
