Employment Development Community Improvement Plan (CIP)

Project costs incurred prior to an application under this CIP may be eligible for funding provided the project has not yet been issued an Occupancy Permit or occupancy has not yet occurred and the Building Permit issuance date is January 1, 2025 or later. Eligible costs cannot exceed project development or redevelopment costs. Applicants will be required to submit overall project costs, including basic development pro forma details. 

Applications under the Sovereign Defence Industrial Space Program require a complete application package, which includes overall project costs. Learn about the eligible costs for consideration for the program.

An agreement between the City and the owner (registered or assessed owners of lands/buildings) may be required, which will set out the terms, duration and default provisions of the incentive(s) to be provided. This may be registered on title of the subject lands at the discretion of the City. The City may discontinue or rescind any financial incentive where there is not compliance with an executed agreement. Non-compliance may result in cancellation of the incentive and requirement for repayment with interest.

With the exception of applications for Employment Ready Review, Exemption from Site Plan Application Fees, the Sovereign Defence Investment Readiness Program and the Sovereign Defence Industrial Space Activation Program, projects must have an approved Site Plan Agreement, if applicable, prior to making an application to any CIP program. Applications must be submitted before an Occupancy Permit is issued, and the Building Permit must have an issuance date of January 1, 2025 or later.

Projects must be located within the City of Barrie municipal boundary as it existed on the date of passing By-law Number 2026-018. Project sites shall not be located on lands subject to flooding hazards, erosion hazards, including wetlands. 

With the exception of applying for the Employment Ready Review, applicants must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the City of Barrie, that adequate municipal services (e.g. water, wastewater, and storm water) and utilities (e.g. hydro, natural gas, etc.) with appropriate capacity to service the proposed development are available or can be made available.

The property under consideration must not be in tax arrears unless a payment schedule approved by the Director of Finance is in place. 

Submissions must include all required supporting information/documents as indicated on the submission form, including, but not limited to:

• outlining the location of the property; 
• the type and nature of the proposed development or redevelopment;
• the anticipated completion date;
• the estimated value of the project;
• basic project pro forma details; 
• anticipated employment numbers and agreement to provide payroll information when requested as supporting documentation; and 
• the financial incentives being applied for.
   

Invest Barrie staff can answer questions about completing required submission documents.

Submissions and supporting documentation will be reviewed by Invest Barrie staff as received to ensure they are complete and meet eligibility requirements.

Applicants will be informed in writing:

• noting the submission is complete and acceptable for review and consideration; or
• noting the submission is incomplete, supporting documentation is missing, or basic eligibility requirements are not met or cannot be confirmed.

Invest Barrie staff will adjudicate, and provide all applicable scorecards and materials to an interdepartmental Grants Review Group, which will review for decision or approval.

Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, for compliance with the eligibility criteria established in the Employment Development CIP by the Business Development Department, in consultation with Development Services, Building Services and Financial Services where applicable.

For Employment Ready Review, Tax Increment Equivalency Grant (TIEG) – Employment, Planning and Building Permit Fees Grant Program, Study Grants Program, submissions are reviewed using the Employment Development CIP scorecard to determine program eligibility. Projects must score a minimum of 70 on the scorecard to be eligible. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis and is not guaranteed. 

For the Sovereign Defence Space Activation Program, submissions are reviewed using the Sovereign Defence Industrial Space Activate Program CIP scorecard to determine program eligibility. A score of 70 or greater confirms eligibility for consideration but does not guarantee approval or the full amount requested. Funding remains subject to available budget, verification of eligible costs, completion of legal review, approval by the Grants Review Group, and execution of a formal agreement. The City may approve a lesser amount than requested where the requested amount is not fully supported by eligible costs, project merit, investment value, employment impact, or available funding. Project risk will also be taken into consideration when awarding funding.

The Grants Review Group will make the final decisions on the allocation of grants, including the amount of funding provided. Grants may be awarded for a lesser amount than what was requested based on merit or limited funding.

Notification will be provided regarding the CIP award, including instructions on next steps for accessing grant money. Successful applicants may be required to enter into a legal agreement with the City of Barrie outlining the amount to be paid by the City, the payment period, and any other applicable terms and conditions. See 4.3 Funding and Timing of Payment of Grants in the Employment Development CIP for more information.

Yes. Applicants may stack CIP incentives, provided the total assistance does not exceed eligible project costs, with the exception of the Sovereign Defence Industrial Space Activation Program, which only permits stacking with a TIEG.

Yes. City CIP incentives may be stacked with other government programs and funding (e.g. Invest Ontario funding). Development projects that previously received a 40 per cent Development Charge discount for industrial projects through a previous Development Charge By-Law are not eligible for any program under this CIP.

Project costs incurred prior to an application under this CIP may be eligible for funding provided the project has not yet been issued an Occupancy Permit by Building Services or occupancy has not yet occurred and the Building Permit issuance date is January 1, 2025 or later.  The Exemption from Site Plan Application Fees must be applied for at Site Plan Application and cannot be reimbursed at a later date. 

Yes, provided that the primary use of the building is employment-based or industrial, additional accessory uses—such as office space—may exist/co-exist.

Provide your best conservative estimate. You may be required to verify your employment figures once the construction project is completed. If the actual number of employees is lower than what was stated during the application process, the project may be re-scored using the using the relevant scorecard to determine whether it remains eligible for funding. 

For successful applicants to the Sovereign Defence Industrial Space Activation Program, any requirements related to a change in property ownership will be set out in the executed funding agreement. Applicants should refer to their agreement for details regarding notification requirements, transfer provisions, and any continuing obligations.

All other CIP incentives apply only to the property owner. Grants may be transferred to a new owner only through an amended agreement. If the property is sold and no transfer agreement is executed, payments to the original owner stop.

Yes. Applicants must provide employment estimates during the application process and must be prepared to submit payroll information or other proof once the project is complete. Employment numbers influence project scoring and eligibility. 

Applications are reviewed by Invest Barrie staff, with approvals made by an interdepartmental Grants Review Group composed of Senior Leadership and Executive Management Team members. Council provides program oversight and funding allocation.