Photo Karen Graham.
As discussions proceeded around the effectiveness of the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) at this week’s Council meeting, Councilor Nachoff described his personal experience. The Millbrook Mercantile, which he and his wife Bernadette own and operate, received financial support through a CIP grant in 2019. It was used to make a bathroom accessible which was required to be granted permission to operate a patio which was launched the same year. Once Covid hit, this additional source of income was key to the business’ survival. This year, CIP grants are available to all businesses outside the Millbrook downtown area which has benefited from the program for the past four years.
In 2019, Council adopted the Millbrook Community Improvement Plan (MCIP). This grant program has been used to support private community development initiatives in downtown Millbrook for the past four years.
The objective of the CIP is to stimulate private investments that support the revitalization of downtown Millbrook through grants that subsidize the cost of approved projects. Among the projects that have been assisted by this funding is new signage, building exterior improvements and the creation of outdoor patio spaces. Community benefits include beautification and restoration of buildings, the revitalization of existing buildings and spaces, rejuvenation and the creation of new uses for existing buildings, and connection and integration of businesses in the area. Public funding under the program can provide up to a maximum of 50% of project costs with upside limits ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 per applicant. To date, grants have represented roughly 20% of spending for approved projects, stimulating on average five dollars of private investment for every grant dollar spent.
The program has supported projects in downtown Millbrook over the past four years but its geographic restrictions meant that only 16% of Cavan Monaghan business were eligible for funding. Last fall, Council decided to expand the funding opportunities offered by the program to the entire township. New funding programs were established to offer broader support to serve businesses across the township, including rural and agricultural economic development, sustainability and technology improvement projects, to name a few.
The 2023 capital budget contains a provision for an expenditure of $25,000 for projects approved under the CIP programs. Each year, Council will provide direction on the geographic area the program will cover, as well as the specific types of projects that will be eligible for grants that year. This year, funding will be considered solely for projects located in the urban fringe and in the rural areas of the township, including hamlets.
The application process will open on July 3rd and close on September 22nd. Applications will then be assessed by staff with project approval by Council tentatively scheduled for the October 16th Council meeting. Grant recipients must complete their projects within a year of its approval. The maximum township expenditure for CIP-supported projects is capped at $25,000 per year as outlined in the township’s capital budget. Application forms are available on the Township website at https://www.cavanmonaghan.net/community-improvement. KG
