Norfolk County is developing a Rural Community Improvement Plan (CIP) with the help of Millier Dickinson Blais and Planscape, two experienced consulting firms involved in community economic development.
The project will identify recommendations to be incorporated into the Norfolk County Official Plan, which is currently under review. These recommendations could include new incentives or programs such as:
- Potential funding of facade, signage or building improvements outside of urban areas of Norfolk County,
- Potential funding to stimulate on-farm and value-added business development, and/or
- Potential incentives to offset costs of converting agricultural buildings to public or other uses.
The process to prepare a Rural CIP will include staff consultation, agri-business sector engagement, best practices review, issues and opportunities identification, draft report and public open house. Presentation to Council is expected later this winter.
Norfolk County has a Community Improvement Plan in place that focuses on urban areas and downtown cores. Current incentives include the Facade Improvement Program, Enviromental Assessment Grant and the Rehabilitation Tax Increment Based Grant Program.
For more information, contact the Economic Development Coordinator at 519-426-5870 ext 1264.
