Role of the Town of Hanover in the funding ecosystem
The Town of Hanover is a lower-tier municipal government in Grey County, Ontario. Beyond providing core municipal services, Hanover plays an active role in stimulating local investment, downtown revitalization and cultural activity through targeted financial incentive and grant programs. These tools are designed to keep the community “open for business” while supporting long-term prosperity, improved housing options and a vibrant cultural scene.
Community Improvement Program and financial incentives
A central component of Hanover’s funding offering is its Community Improvement Program (CIP), which provides a structured “menu of incentives” for projects within the town boundaries. The program targets a wide range of eligible activities, including:
- Increasing attainable housing stock, such as secondary suites, multi-unit and purpose-built rental housing.
- Redevelopment or conversion of brownfield, vacant and greyfield properties.
- Downtown storefront, façade and streetscape improvements.
- Adaptive reuse and upgrades of commercial, industrial and institutional buildings.
- Interior leasehold and accessibility improvements that help new businesses start up or expand.
- Investments in destination infrastructure and intensified development in key areas.
Council sets an annual overall budget for these financial incentive programs and can allocate funds to specific streams. Properties anywhere in the town are eligible if the owner or authorized tenant is in good standing. Applications are considered on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority sites identified in the Community Improvement Plan when funds are limited.
Successful applicants enter into an agreement with the Town, complete their improvement works, and then receive funding once construction is finished, inspected and supported by original paid invoices. Within the Downtown Improvement Area, eligible façade, building, signage and accessibility projects can receive an additional top-up percentage on the approved grant amount.
Event and cultural funding
Within its Recreation & Culture and Economic Development portfolios, Hanover lists an Event Development Fund under both Arts & Culture and Current Initiatives. While detailed guidelines are on a separate subpage, its placement alongside tourism and cultural programming indicates that the town offers targeted financial support to help develop and grow local cultural and tourism-oriented events, strengthening Hanover’s position as a regional entertainment and cultural hub.
Business support and partnerships
The town’s funding role is complemented by close collaboration with the Hanover Downtown Improvement Area and the Hanover Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber, hosted on the town’s website, administers small grants such as accessibility ramp assistance and a Small Business Security Enhancement Grant delivered in partnership with the DIA and the Town of Hanover. The municipality also directs local enterprises to Grey County business support programs, helping businesses access a broader mix of loans, incentives and branding initiatives.
Supported audiences and impact
Through these mechanisms, Hanover supports private property owners, local businesses, landlords, and event organizers. The long-running façade and downtown incentive programs have leveraged substantial private investment and visibly improved the town’s core. By combining capital improvement grants with event and cultural funding, Hanover’s programs aim to enhance quality of life, attract visitors, and foster a resilient local economy.
