BROCKTON – The Municipality of Brockton is offering local businesses a series of grant programs under its new Community Improvement Plan, which now extends beyond downtown Walkerton to historic hamlets and villages such as Cargill, Chepstow, Elmwood and Pinkerton, and to rural areas with farm-gates or agricultural businesses that sell directly to the public.
The new Community Improvement Plan (CIP) and related programs were recently approved by council, following public consultation. Six programs are now available to businesses in various areas, depending on the program:
– Façade Improvement Program (50 per cent funding, up to $3,000);
– Signage Program (50 per cent funding, up to $1,500);
– Accessibility Improvement Program (50 per cent funding, up to $2,000);
– Farm Gate Program (50 per cent funding, up to $1,500);
– Environmental Stewardship and Energy Efficiency Program (50 per cent funding, up to $3,000); and
– Vacant or Underused Properties Conversion or Expansion Program (50 per cent funding, up to $7,000).
These programs will be available to eligible businesses for the remainder of 2022. Approved projects must be completed within 12 months. Council budgeted a total of $35,000 for CIP grants this year, with approximately $29,000 remaining for the new programs.
“I am very pleased to see our new Community Improvement Plan come to fruition,” said Brockton’s Chief Administrative Officer, Sonya Watson. “We are happy to offer additional funding to assist businesses, developers and agri-businesses seeking to enhance properties within Brockton and add value to our communities.”
Information about each program can be found at www.brockton.ca/en/do-business/business-improvement-grants.aspx.
Expanding the CIP to include all of Brockton enables businesses to apply to Bruce County’s new “industry stream” grants, which are part of its Spruce the Bruce community improvement program.
Brockton is the first municipality in the county to expand its CIP to include the entire municipality.
The newly minted CIP allows Brockton council to choose each year from a menu of options what incentives it will offer local businesses. Maximum grant amounts are set out in the CIP, with the total budget determined by Council on an annual basis.
