Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Review

Haldimand County is reviewing its Community Improvement Plans (CIPs) to evaluate and enhance existing programs, explore new incentives, and assess opportunities to expand CIP areas and better address emerging needs.

On this page

Background

Haldimand County currently has two Community Improvement Plans (CIPs):

  1. Downtown Area Community Improvement Plan (DACIP)
  2. Rural Business Tourism Community Improvement Plan (RBTCIP)

Economic Development and Tourism staff administer these programs to offer incentives to stimulate vibrancy in the business community.

Sierra Planning & Management has been retained by Haldimand County to review and update the existing CIPs, ensuring they align with current legislation, Haldimand County’s strategic priorities, best practices across Ontario municipalities, and the community's evolving needs. The project aims to improve clarity and consistency, incorporate program feedback, and consider environmental changes to promote program uptake.

By leveraging a CIP, municipalities can support private sector improvements, stimulate growth, address local challenges, and help build thriving communities where people want to live, work, play, and invest.

A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is:

  • A tool of the Planning Act to promote property development and investment which has clear public interest goals.
  • CIPs involve programs of financial, procedural and other incentives to encourage private sector investment.
  • Often part of larger strategies involving public realm investments, economic development priorities and sector strategies.

Private property owners and businesses in designated CIP areas 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.

Some incentives and programs available through a CIP include:

  • Grants or loans for eligible community improvement costs under the Ontario Planning Act (such as environmental remediation, construction and reconstruction of lands and buildings).
  • Property tax assistance per the Municipal Act.

A municipality would use a CIP to help assist public improvement efforts in order to achieve community improvement goals.

  • Public improvements: Improvements to streets, parks, and public spaces identified in community plans
  • Private Investment: Improvements by property owners and businesses supported through the CIP.

Project goals

The CIP update will:

  • Identify current issues that face Haldimand County’s business and development community
  • Explore opportunities to consolidate the existing CIPs into a unified framework
  • Examine the potential expansion of the CIP Area to include the entirety of Haldimand County
  • Review and adjust existing incentive programs while identifying new ones to support community priorities and emerging sectors
  • Research and complete a best practice/case study review of surrounding CIPs and other incentive programs offered related to the identified areas/sectors
  • Tailor incentive programs to specific areas such as commercial downtowns, rural properties, and purpose-built rental and affordable housing developments

Timeline and updates

Background review

Summer
2026

Stakeholder engagement

Fall
2026

Draft CIP development

Fall 2026/Winter 2027

Finalize and implement CIP

Spring/Summer 2027

Public consultation opportunities

  • Public survey: Online Public survey directed at business and property owners to gain input on their specific needs and ensure the suite of CIP programs supports existing and future business plans for (re)development. Additional details coming soon.
  • Business community focus groups: Focused conversations to understand perspectives on business and community improvement needs related to the study. Registration required; additional information coming soon.
  • Public open house: In-person public open houses to present the draft final CIP. Anticipated in 2027; additional information to come.
  • Statutory public meeting: In-person public meeting to present the draft final CIP to Council in Committee. Anticipated in 2027; additional information to come.

Keep checking this webpage to follow the progress of the project and to see how you can contribute to the development of the CIP by providing your feedback.

For more information on the project, please contact opportunity@Haldimandcounty.on.ca. 

Contact Us

Economic Development & Tourism
53 Thorburn Street South
Cayuga, Ontario
Canada, N0A 1E0

Email Economic Development & Tourism
Phone: 905-318-5932 ext. 6389
Phone: 1-800-863-9607