Financial incentives changing the face of uptown Waterloo

Properties in Waterloo’s uptown core are changing thanks in part to the city’s community improvement plan (CIP). 

The CIP is a toolkit of financial incentives designed to support and encourage job growth projects, sustainable urbanization, affordable housing and heritage conservation within the uptown CIP boundary. 

Since 2016 when council approved the program, staff have approved and funded 32 different applications, valued at about $1.3 million in matching grants. Projects include both interior and exterior upgrades, including Craft Chippery on King Street and a heritage-listed property on Young Street. 

Program grants are available to upgrade building facades, renovate or create large or small spaces for affordable housing or office employment, conserve residential heritage properties, and much more. Applicants can receive up to a maximum of $50,000 in matching grants. Properties must be located within the CIP boundary to be eligible for these grants, and applications receive funding on a first come, first served basis. 

Just under $1 million in funding is available for 2019 until the program in its current form expires in December 2020. 

There are two application windows in 2019:  

• Spring application window: April 22 to May 27, 2019
• Fall application window: October to November 2019 (dates to be confirmed)

Interested parties are encouraged to talk with Rachel Martin, the city’s economic development coordinator, before submitting an application to learn more about the program and determine which grants work best for the project. Rachel is available at 519-886-1550, ext. 78004 or cip@waterloo.ca 

For more information about the uptown community improvement plan, visit waterloo.ca

Media contact:

Shelly Reed
Communications consultant
519-747-8515
TTY: 1-866-786-3941
shelly.reed@waterloo.ca