Downtown Development Grant

Provides a cash-based grant equivalent to 3% of the eligible capital costs to create a mixed-use or multi-unit residential development on properties in the downtown that would not qualify for the tax exemptions. The development grants will be subject to certain conditions and are paid out only once the project is complete.

Downtown Development Grant Policy and Procedure

Funding

  1. The maximum amount available for an Incentive Grant, per Property is:
    • 3% of Eligible Capital Costs.
  2. Eligible Capital Costs include:
    • Professional fees including but not limited to: Architectural, engineering, and or project design fees;
    • Project construction costs including, but not limited to: site preparation, demolition, landscaping costs, construction materials and equipment, construction labour, and fixtures, fittings, and appliances.
    • Additional costs required to create spaces that are accommodating to persons with disabilities;
    • Costs associated with creating a space designed for the public good including but not limited to a plaza or park accessible to the public, a public art installation, etc.
  3. Ineligible costs include, but are not limited to:
    • Non-permanent fixtures, interior window coverings, or non-permanent home furnishings;
    • Personal property or equipment;
    • Soft costs including, but not limited to, interest, insurance, legal fees, accounting fees, security fees, property taxes;
    • Costs related to marketing the Project including, but not limited to, photography, staging, signage, digital or print marketing materials, or non-permanent promotional signage.
    • Costs incurred prior to the Application Date; and
    • Any improvements require to correct Building Code, Fire Code, or Property Standards orders.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive an Incentive Grant, the following eligibility criteria must be met:

  1. Requirements for the Project:
    • Be a new construction;
    • No work may be commenced prior to entry into a Program Agreement. Any work completed prior to entry into a Program Agreement is not eligible;
    • Be completed in a timely manner in accordance with the terms of the Program Agreement;
    • Contain a Residential Use that comprises of at least 50% of the total square footage of a building or structure, and be either of the following:
      • A Mixed-Use Development that creates a minimum of three (3) Dwelling Units located above commercial use occupancy on the ground floor of the building, through either new construction or through conversion of an existing building from an alternate use other than Multi-Unit Residential Development or Mixed-Use Development; or
      • A Multi-Unit Residential Development that creates a minimum of six (6) new Dwelling Units and is at least two (2) storeys through either new construction or through conversion of an existing building from an alternate use other than Multi-Unit Residential Development Mixed Use Development.
    • Compliance with all applicable requirements of the City’s Land-Use Bylaw, and other applicable legislation, codes, standards, and bylaws.
  2. Requirements for a Property subject to a Project:
    • Be located within the defined Program Boundary;
    • Not be in arrears or have amounts owing with regards to property tax, utilities, or other fees owed to the City;
    • Not be owned by a government or religious institution;
    • Not be going through foreclosure; and
    • Not be under a land use enforcement order in accordance with the Municipal Government Act (the “MGA”), in violation of any development agreement, permit, or the Safety Codes Act prior to application and/or at any time during the term of the Program Agreement.
  3. Requirements for the Applicant:
    • Be the registered owner of the Property subject to the Project, or their agent;
    • Must not be in arrears or have amounts owing with respect to property taxes, utilities, or other fees towards the City;
    • Not be in bankruptcy;
    • Not be under a land use enforcement order in accordance with the MGA, in violation of a development agreement, permit, or the Safety Codes Act prior to application and/or at any time during the term of the Program Agreement; and
    • Follow the procedure set-out in the Downtown Multi-Unit Residential Incentive Grants Procedure.
  4. Only Eligible Capital Costs incurred after a Program Agreement has been entered into will be eligible for an Incentive Grant.
  5. An Incentive Grant will only be provided if all of the eligibility criteria have been satisfied and the Project, Applicant, and Property subject to the Project otherwise comply with the Program.
  6. An Incentive Grant will not be provided at the time of Project completion, if the Applicant is in arrears on taxes, utilities, fines, or other amounts owed to the City.
  7. An Incentive Grant will only be provided once the following conditions have been met:
    • Construction of the Project is complete;
    • Occupancy has been authorized by a qualified Safety Codes Officer; and
    • All conditions of any document authorizing development, excluding those of a continuing nature, have been fulfilled to the satisfaction of appropriate authority.
  8. Each Property is eligible for the Program only once.
  9. Properties and Applicants in receipt of a Brownfield Tax Exemption issued pursuant to Bylaw C15-22 are not eligible for the Program.

Application and Guidelines

Incentive Grants are allocated at the discretion of the Review Committee, based on the maximum amount under the Program, available funds, as well as the scope and nature of the Project.

The application and approval process and details regarding project eligibility, eligible capital costs, and funding are detailed in FIN-015-C.

For more information about these incentives, please contact Economic Development at ecdev@fortsask.ca or 780-997-6674.