Niagara Gateway Economic Zone & Centre Community Improvement Plan
The Gateway CIP provides financial incentives to revitalize, strengthen, and diversify Welland’s economy by promoting private sector investment, development, redevelopment, and construction activities on employment lands in the Gateway CIP project area. To date, the Gateway CIP has promoted the generation of approximately 1,099,145 square feet of new industrial and commercial space, the creation of diverse employment opportunities, and approximately $388,449,951 in total private sector investment.
Three incentive programs are available through the Gateway CIP:
1) Tax Increment Grant (TIG)
Provides an annual tax increment based grant equal to between 40 and 100 per cent of the municipal (City and Regional) property tax increase generated by the approved project for a period of five or ten years.
2) Development Charge Incentives
City of Welland Industrial Development Charge Exemption
100 per cent exemption of city development charges payable for industrial uses within the CIP area and the city as a whole.
Gateway Regional Development Charge Grant Program
There is also up to 100 per cent reduction of regional development charges for exceptional projects meeting CIP criteria. Please take note, the grant payment is capped at $1.5M.
Regional Industrial Use Development Charges Grant Program
This program provides financial reductions for industrial users investing in the Niagara Region that have obtained (or plan to obtain) a building permit to build or expand existing facilities.
3) Planning Application Fee Grant
Provides eligible projects a grant of 100 per cent of the applicable city planning application fees.
