Business Landing

Community Improvement Plan

Community Improvement Plan
Community Improvement Plan

A Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a planning and economic development tool that sets out a framework to assist in community revitalization and aims to achieve economic, community planning and urban development goals. Community Improvement Plans provide many community benefits by:

  • Stimulating private sector investment in the community through grants and loans from the Municipality;
  • Promoting revitalization and place-making to attract tourism, business investment and economic development opportunities;
  • Developing affordable housing;
  • Promoting brownfield cleanup and redevelopment;
  • Enhancing streetscapes and building facades;
  • Encouraging the effective use of community infrastructure.

Businesses and property owners considering participation in the CIP are encouraged to review the full program details linked below. All applicants are required to meet with Municipal staff for a pre-application meeting, with the exception of applicants to  the COVID-19 Business Retrofit Grant.

Summary of Recent Updates to the Community Improvement Plan

Key priority areas for 2023-24:

  • Projects within downtown commercial areas
  • Façade, building and signage improvements
  • Startup space leasehold improvements
  • Conversion or expansion of vacant buildings
  • Accessibility improvements


There are no intake deadlines for program applications; applications will be received on an ongoing basis.

There is a cap of $10,000 on the total financial incentives approved per property/business owner per property per year.

The total number of approved applications per property/business owner per property is limited to a maximum of three over a five-year period, up to a total combined maximum of $20,000 in financial incentives.

There are limits on the types of applications approved for each property if multiple applications are received for the same location.

Participation in this program is limited to independently owned and operated businesses that are not part of any franchise.

The COVID-19 Business Retrofit Grant has been removed from the suite of approved grant categories.

The Secondary Suite Development Charge Grant has been removed from the suite of approved grant categories.

The Tax Increment Equivalent Grant has been removed from the suite of approved grant categories.

The Portable Accessibility Ramp Subsidy has been added to the suite of grants available through the CIP program.

A Heritage Property Tax Rebate has been added to the suite of grants available through the CIP program.


A pre-application meeting with a multidisciplinary staff review team (includes representatives from Building, Economic Development, and Planning Departments) is required prior to the submission of an application. Please email ecdev@greyhighlands.ca for more information or to schedule a meeting.

Community Improvement Plan Document

Please click here to obtain a copy of the Plan. Please email ecdev@greyhighlands.ca for more information or to schedule a pre-application meeting.

© 2023 Municipality of Grey Highlands |
Office Location:
206 Toronto Street South Unit 1, Markdale |
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 409 Markdale, Ontario N0C 1H0

Office Hours:
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Toll Free: 1-888-342-4059 |
Fax: 519-986-3643 |
info@greyhighlands.ca