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BROWNFIELD INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
Many resources are now available to encourage the clean-up and redevelopment of brownfield sites:
Regional Programs
To help address some of the financial challenges associated with brownfield clean-up and redevelopment, the Region of Waterloo created the Brownfields Financial Incentive Program (BFIP). This program, approved by Regional Council in October 2006, set aside $2.5 million as part of a larger strategy to promote reurbanization throughout the region.
Brownfields Financial Incentive Program Brochure
Waterloo Region Contacts
 Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Grants
These grants provide assistance for the completion of certain Phase II Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs) that provide information to help the Region protect groundwater resources. The grants cover 50 per cent of one Phase II ESA per site to a maximum of $40,000. Click on the links below for more information.
Phase II Environmental Site Assessment Grant Program Details
Phase II ESA Grant Application
Regional Development Charges Exemptions
Brownfield sites throughout the Region (and outside designated Core Areas where DC exemptions already apply) are now eligible for Regional Development Charges (RDC) exemptions. The maximum value of the exemption equals the total amount of eligible clean-up costs, less any other brownfield financial assistance received. Click on the links below for more information.
Regional Development Charges By-law
Brownfields RDC Exemption Program Details
Brownfields RDC Exemption Application
Joint Tax Increment Grant Program (Regional and Area Municipal)
Changes to provincial legislation means that the Region can now participate in local Community Improvement Plans, including those that provide incentives for brownfield redevelopment. The Region and Area Municipalities are continuing to implement a a joint Tax Increment Grant (TIG) program that provides developers of brownfield properties in eligible areas with an opportunity to receive grants when the project is completed that will help them recoup up to 100 per cent of clean-up costs. The TIG is based on the increase in Area Municipal and Regional tax assessment, eligible clean-up costs and any other brownfield assistance received earlier in the development process.
The joint TIG Program is now available for eligible brownfield sites in the City of Kitchener and the Core Areas (Galt, Preston and Hespeler) in the City of Cambridge. For more details on each of these programs, please see below.
Joint TIG Program Details
City of Cambridge/Region of Waterloo Joint Tax Increment Grant Program
On June 21, 2010 the City of Cambridge passed By-Law No. 107-10 approving the City-wide Brownfields Community Improvement Plan. This Community Improvement Plan (CIP) outlines a joint Tax Increment Grant (TIG) Program with the Region of Waterloo for brownfield remediation and redevelopment. This program applies to eligible brownfield sites within the City of Cambridge and provides developers with an opportunity to receive grants after project completion that will help them recoup clean-up costs. The TIG program is based on the increase in City and Regional taxes, the amount of eligible clean-up costs and any other brownfield assistance received earlier in the development process.
City of Cambridge/Region of Waterloo Joint TIG Application
For more information on the Joint TIG Program in Cambridge, please contact:
Senior Reurbanization Planner
Planning Services, Core Areas Project Manager
City of Cambridge
50 Dickson Street, 3rd Floor
P.O. Box 669
Cambridge, ON N1R 5W8
Phone: 519-740-4650 Ext. 4213
Email: planning@cambridge.ca
City of Kitchener/Region of Waterloo Joint Tax Increment Grant Program
On June 23rd, 2008 the City of Kitchener passed By-Law No. 2008-127 amending the City of Kitchener Brownfield Remediation Community Improvement Plan (CIP). The City of Kitchener Brownfield Remediation CIP outlines a joint Tax Increment Grant (TIG) Program with the Region of Waterloo for brownfield remediation and redevelopment. This program applies to eligible brownfield sites throughout the City of Kitchener and provides developers with an opportunity to receive grants after project completion that will help them recoup clean-up costs. The TIG program is based on the increase in City and Regional taxes, the amount of eligible clean-up costs and any other brownfield assistance received earlier in the development process.
City of Kitchener/Region of Waterloo Joint TIG Application
For more information on the Joint TIG Program in Kitchener, please contact:
Terry Boutilier, Sr. Business Development Officer & Brownfield Coordinator
City of Kitchener
200 King Street West, 1st Floor
P.O. Box 1118
Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Phone: 519-741-2303
Email: terry.boutilier@kitchener.ca
For more information on all programs under the BFIPP, please contact:
Brooke Lambert, Principal Planner, Brownfields Coordinator
Region of Waterloo
150 Frederick Street, 8th Floor
Kitchener, ON N2G 4J3
Phone: 519-575-4500 Ext. 3113
Email:lbrooke@region.waterloo.on.ca
ADDITIONAL BROWNFIELD PROGRAMS/SUPPORTS
The information below describes other government programs and supports that are available to encourage brownfield redevelopment:
For more information on available incentives and funding resources for housing, please click here.
Other Area Municipal Supports and Services
Provincial of Ontario
The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has developed a Brownfield Financial Tax Incentive Program to encourage clean-up and redevelopment of brownfield properties. The program consists of educational property tax assistance to match municipal property tax assistance, which means that the province can cancel all or a portion of the education property taxes of a property for up to three years. For more information on the Brownfield Financial Tax Incentive program, click here.
The Provincial government has also enacted new legislation to encourage more interest and participation in brownfield redevelopment from municipalities and the private sector. Taking Action on Brownfields aims to reduce liability barriers, protect municipalities when encouraging brownfield development, allow the province to take steps to remediate properties in private company dissolution, and more. For more information on Taking Action on Brownfields, click here.
Federal Government
The Green Municipal Fund (GMF) has recently been created by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for the purpose of providing long-term sustainable source of financing for municipal governments and their partners in capital projects and studies in brownfields. The GMF is complimented by two additional funds: the Green Municipal Enabling Fund, which provides grants for cost-shared feasibility studies, and the Green Municipal Investment Fund, which supports the implementation of innovative environmental projects. For more information on the Green Municipal Fund, click here.
In the 2004 budget, the Federal Government committed to a Federal Site Clean-up Program to accelerate the rate at which federally contaminated sites were being cleaned-up. The government has allotted $4 billion over 10 years to clean-up sites for which the government is fully or partially responsible for the contamination. For more information on the Federal Site Clean-up Program, click here.
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