The city is looking at expanding the community improvement plan which offers incentives for development in certain parts of the city.

Right now it applies to the downtown, the Airport Industrial Park and the brownfields area.

Staff is recommending a new name and plan.

If passed, it would be known as the Growth Community Improvement Plan and would include four sectors:
– the downtown
– housing
– industrial development
– the raillands

City Councillor Dave Mendicino says the industrial sector is an improvement from the current incentives offered to industry.

“The industrial plan, if approved, would be city-wide and will encourage people with private land that is zoned industrial to develop. There are a lot of incentives to entice development,” he says.

Mendecino says under the plan every dollar the city gives as an incentive five dollars is spent by the developer.

Staff is recommending the city budget $720,000 for this plan next year.

Councillor Mike Anthony says West Ferris should also be included.

“I believe West Ferris could benefit from a couple of the incentives including facade improvement and building improvement grants,” Anthony says.

He’s proposing that West Ferris be eligible for the 2021 budget.

(File photo by station staff)

Filed under: City of North Bay