A document prepared as a means to provide financial incentive programs to boost business growth here will be the focus of a public meeting at the Civic Centre tonight.
The economic development financial incentive plan, which is being recommended to council for approval by the Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Administration and Finance executive committee, was prepared in tandem with a broader community improvement plan which outlines aspects of the town which will be targeted for improvement.
Financial incentive programs established through a community improvement plan—and approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing—provide the opportunity for a municipality to make grants or loans to the owners of lands and buildings to pay for the cost of rehabilitating such properties, which otherwise would be considered “bonusing” and prohibited by the ministry.
The proposed incentives include:
•site development and grade assistance grant;
•lands availability financing grant;
•tipping fee grant;
•municipal applications grant (covering Planning Act , building permit, sign permit, and plumbing permit fees);
•contaminated sites grant;
•service connections grant;
•crossings grant;
•realty tax increment equivalent grant; and
•land availability grant.
Some or all of these programs would be authorized to commence on the date the community improvement plan is approved by the ministry. If it is approved, council then would determine exactly when they would be implemented.
The community improvement plan was submitted to the province in February after council gave it the go-ahead. Municipal planner Faye Flatt said she was hoping to get an update on the ministry’s approval process today.
Fort Frances CAO Bill Naturkach noted this incentive plan is not superseded by the province’s intentions to form tax incentive zones to give eligible businesses an exemption on paying provincial business education tax, capital tax, and employer health tax.
“The tax incentive zone plan revealed by the government only accentuates the need, and the logic of, what we’re trying to do,” said Naturkach. “They’re just doing it from a different angle.
“[The tax incentive zone announcement] is great news, but at the same time, it’s only a proposed plan at this time. And we can’t wait until January, 2004 to get our economic development incentives in place,” he stressed.
While the town advertised that presenters were welcome to come forward and speak their minds about the business incentive plan, only one—the Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce—notified Naturkach of their attendance.
The public meeting will take place at 7 p.m. in council chambers, preceding other business on the agenda for the regular council meeting.
The committee of the whole will meet first downstairs at 5:30 p.m.
Other business at tonight’s council meeting will include:
•a presentation by Grades 4-6 from J.W. Walker called “Proud Canadians” (this is in response to the centennial celebration advisory committee’s invitation to schools for participation in centennial activities);
•a report on the proposed Kiwanis skate park site at the Memorial Sports Centre;
•recomendations from the Operations and Facilities executive committee regarding awarding the tender for the reconstruction of a portion of Front Street;
•a bylaw to authorize the execution of a site plan control agreement with Wal-Mart Canada Corp. as a condition of development;
•a draft agreement with the Business Improvement Area regarding a contribution towards “Re-Inventing Fort Frances;”
•executive committee chairperson oral reports on division activities;
•a break-open ticket licence application from La Verendrye Hospital Auxiliary at The Bonnie Blue from May 28, 2003-Nov. 28, 2003;
•a request from Tony Kadikoff regarding the replacement of the water line in the area of 499 Keating Ave.;
•a request from the Fort Frances High School “chem-free grad” committee for financial support regarding the June 25 celebration; and
•a bylaw to approve an extension to an agreement with Carol Barrell for operation of concessions at the Memorial Sports Centre.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
