Industrial and Commercial Development Charge Grant Program

The City of Orillia’s Industrial and Commercial Development Charge Grant Program helps eligible businesses and property owners reduce the municipal development charge costs associated with expanding an established industrial or commercial operation.

The program is intended to encourage private-sector investment, business retention and expansion, job creation, redevelopment of underutilized properties, and long-term economic growth in Orillia.

Program overview

Eligible applicants may receive a grant to offset the municipal development charges paid for an approved expansion project. The grant applies only to the City of Orillia portion of development charges.

·        School board development charges are not eligible.

·        Building permit fees, planning fees and other approval or development costs are not eligible under this program.

·        All development charges, fees and municipal charges must still be paid when due.

·        A grant is paid only after the City verifies payment of eligible municipal development charges and confirms that all program requirements have been met.

Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Economic Development staff before applying for a building permit.

Who can apply?

The registered owner of the property may apply. At the time of application and throughout the approval process, the applicant must not have outstanding property taxes or other arrears or charges owing to the City, another applicable municipality, or the Province.

Eligible projects

To be considered, a project must:

·        meet the definition of an industrial or commercial use in the City’s Development Charges By-law;

·        expand an existing industrial or commercial building; or

·        construct a new ancillary building or structure that directly supports an established business already operating on the property;

·        demonstrate economic benefits to Orillia, such as business growth, new or retained jobs, capital investment, operational improvements, or new products, services or manufacturing capabilities; and

·        meet all applicable municipal approvals, building permit requirements and other laws.

Projects that are not eligible

·        Stand-alone speculative developments.

·        New principal buildings intended only for future occupancy by unknown tenants.

·        Projects that are not directly connected to the expansion of an existing business operation.

·        Residential development or other uses that do not meet the applicable industrial or commercial definitions in the Development Charges By-law.

Before you apply

·        Contact Economic Development staff to discuss your project and confirm whether it may qualify.

·        Submit a complete electronic application at least one month before the anticipated building permit issuance date.

·        Do not assume funding has been reserved until the City confirms approval in writing and the required agreement has been executed.

·        Budget for payment of all development charges and fees when due. The program operates as a grant, not an exemption from development charges.

How to apply

Contact Ryan Lay, Manager of Economic Development directly by emailing rlay@orillia.ca. 

Information required with your application

·        Applicant and business name.

·        Property address and proof of ownership.

·        Detailed project description and proposed building expansion area in square feet.

·        Estimated capital investment and municipal development charges.

·        Expected construction start and completion dates.

·        Number of permanent full-time jobs expected to be created and jobs expected to be retained.

·        Description of operational improvements and any new products, services or manufacturing capabilities.

·        Explanation of how the project will support economic growth in Orillia.

·        Any additional plans, estimates, approvals or supporting documents requested by the City.

Important program conditions

·        Funding is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligibility does not guarantee funding.

·        The City may limit, defer or discontinue approvals when available funding has been committed.

·        The approved project must proceed in accordance with its building permit, the grant agreement and all applicable law.

·        The City may require the grant to be secured through planning or development securities and/or a charge or mortgage registered on title.

·        The City may cancel the grant or require full repayment if false or misleading information is provided, the permit is cancelled or ceases to be valid, the project is abandoned or not completed, the property is transferred without required consent, the property is not used for the approved purpose, or the agreement is breached.

·        A building permit may be subject to revocation if construction does not start within six months after permit issuance or is substantially suspended or discontinued for more than one year.

Contact

Ryan Lay, Manager of Economic Development
Email: rlay@orillia.ca 
Phone: 705-329-3825