North Frontenac Community Improvement Plan

• Detailed description of the proposed development and a detailed work plan
• Cost estimates, quotations, or contracts
• Plans, drawings, site plan, photographs of existing conditions, and supporting reports
• Accessibility plan, energy audit or technical documentation, planning application materials, professional studies or reports, and other supporting documents as applicable
• Written owner authorization if the applicant is not the owner

Who is eligible?

• Property owners
• Tenants with written owner authorization
• Non-profit or community organizations occupying eligible buildings with written owner authorization

Who is not eligible

• Home-based businesses or home occupations
• Mobile businesses, including refreshment vehicles
• Residential-only uses, unless part of a mixed-use or program-specific exception
• Non-commercial properties renting structures for short-term accommodation

Eligible expenses

• Building façades, exterior repairs and finishes, including cladding materials, windows, doors, roof shingles or metal sheeting, architectural details, and painting.
• Signage, lighting, awnings, storefront improvements, landscaping, patios, fencing, and entrance or streetscape elements.
• Interior renovations tied to business start-up, expansion, or modernization; building code, fire, or health and safety upgrades; and conversion of underutilized space to commercial, mixed-use, or employment uses.
• Barrier-free entrances, ramps, doorways, automatic doors, accessible washrooms, interior circulation, exterior lighting and safety improvements, and wayfinding or accessibility signage.
• Insulation, windows, doors, air sealing, high-efficiency heating, cooling and ventilation systems, renewable energy installations, water conservation, stormwater management, low-impact design or landscaping, planning application fees, building and demolition permit fees, and professional services to prepare drawings, studies, or reports supporting a permit application.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• Routine maintenance or cosmetic work not visible or impactful.
• Projects started prior to written CIP approval.
• Home-based businesses or home occupations.
• Mobile businesses, including refreshment vehicles.
• Residential-only uses, unless part of a mixed-use or program-specific exception; non-commercial properties renting structures for short-term accommodation; pre-application consultation and review fees; legal fees, land acquisition costs, development charges; costs associated with appeals, enforcement actions, or non-compliance; and studies or drawings not required by the municipality or another agency.

Eligible geographic areas

• Township of North Frontenac

• Alignment with CIP goals, up to 30 points, with higher scores for projects that address two or more goals.
• Community benefit and visibility, up to 25 points, including public-facing improvements, improved access, safety, inclusivity, and community identity.
• Economic impact, up to 20 points, including business retention or expansion, job creation or service continuity, and reinvestment in underutilized buildings.
• Environmental and energy performance, up to 15 points, including measurable efficiency gains and climate-resilient or low-impact practices.
• Project readiness and feasibility, up to 10 points, plus optional tie-breakers for projects in designated hamlets, main streets, or strategic areas, projects leveraging other funding, first-time CIP applicants, and projects involving heritage or long-term community assets.

• Meet with the Manager of Community Development or the CAO before submitting an application to review project eligibility and bring a description of the proposed work, estimated costs, a project timeline, and plans or drawings.
• Submit a complete application before any work begins and before applying for a building permit if one is required.
• Applications are only accepted within application in-take periods advertised by the Township.

• Applications are reviewed by the Manager of Community Development with input from relevant municipal staff and scored against the CIP criteria before a recommendation is provided to the CAO.
• The CAO makes the final decision, and applicants are notified within approximately 15 business days of the closing of the application period.
• If approved, the applicant must enter into a formal grant agreement outlining the approved work, funding amount, timeline, and conditions.
• All costs are paid upfront by the applicant, and grants are reimbursed after the work is completed in accordance with the agreement and all required approvals are in place.
• The Township may terminate the agreement and withdraw funding approval if the applicant does not meet the agreement conditions.

• A grant agreement must be signed before funding is paid.
• Original receipts are required for reimbursement.
• Applications may be inspected by Township staff.
• The program can be combined with other funding sources, subject to overall limits.