Community Improvement Plan gets green light from Council

For immediate release (June 28, 2016) – Orillia Council approved the Downtown Tomorrow Community Improvement Plan (DTCIP), which includes eight financial incentives designed to stimulate development in the City’s core, at its public meeting on June 27.

“We’ve been working hard over the past year to ensure the DTCIP is flexible and meets the needs of both current and potential business owners,” said Mayor Steve Clarke. “Council is confident that the final plan will help stimulate new development and expansions, which will help revitalize the commercial core of the City.”

Each year Council will have the ability to assess the DTCIP and make determinations on the annual grant programs available, and maximum budget allocations, to ensure the program remains effective at stimulating development. The financial incentive programs will be continually monitored and fine-tuned, which will ensure the City is getting the optimal return on its investment.

The final plan includes eight financial incentive programs, which will provide grants for development costs related to feasibility studies, application and permit fees, façade improvements, building improvements, creation of residential units, tax increases, brownfield development and development charges; the first five of which will be implemented in 2017.

Two public engagement sessions were held last fall and more than 65 community stakeholders provided input on everything from design principles to community improvement needs. This feedback was incorporated into the final draft, along with feedback received from Council at a Special Council Meeting held on Nov. 12, 2015. Staff continue to work with the Downtown Orillia Management Board (DOMB), and a Project Review Team, which includes local development professionals, on the grant evaluation criteria and recommended budget allocations for 2017.

The Downtown Orillia Retail Mix Analysis will also get started this week. The study will provide a comprehensive analysis of the stores and services currently downtown, while identifying gaps which could be filled through promotion of the DTCIP incentive programs.

For more information on the DTCIP contact the City of Orillia Economic Development Office at 705-325-4900, or visit the DTCIP webpage at orillia.ca/downtowncip.

The City of Orillia is a city of 31,000 people in the heart of Ontario’s Lake Country on the shores of Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe. Visit our website at orillia.ca.

-30-

Laura Thompson
Economic Development Officer
705-325-5818
lthompson@orillia.ca

Dan Landry
Manager of Economic Development
705-325-4884
dlandry@orillia.ca

Jennifer Ruff
Manager of Communications
705-325-8929
705-238-9209 (cell)
jruff@orillia.ca