ANALYSE ON THE NUMBER, SCOPE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF CIPs IN ONTARIO A 2020 study looked at an analysis of the content and outcomes of Community Improvement Plans in Ontario. xv The study found that out of 133 municipalities within Ontario, 202 CIPs were in place.
Of these CIPs, 123 focused on incentivising improvements within downtown or commercial cores, 29 within industrial areas, and 6 on housing. The study also looked at the most popular type of CIP programs, which included tax-increment equivalent grant programs, construction related programs, fee-based programs, development charge grants, housing and brownfield programs. Table 1 provides an overview of several example CIPs in place.
CONCLUSION In a world of increasing global competition for business investment, financial incentives are a valuable tool that EDOs need to add to their municipal toolbox. Through proper governance, well-defined incentive scheme programs and proper reporting and accountability, EDO’ s can maximise the potential of incentive schemes while mitigating risk.
Municipalities in Canada have been successfully using incentives via the CIP framework for decades. There is no need to have to reinvent the wheel in Australia. State and Federal governments should explore integrating governing frameworks to encourage CIP adoption, like Ontario did. In the meantime, the door is open for brave EDOs to begin exploring the benefits these types of programs could have in their own community.
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v Kreps, S., & Timmers, P.( 2022, December 20). Bringing economics back into EU and U. S. chips policy. Brookings. https:// www. brookings. edu / articles / bringing-economics-back-into-thepolitics-of-the- eu-and-u-s-chips-acts-chinasemiconductor-competition / vi
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Establishing an economic development incentive policy.( 2017, September 30). Government Finance Officers Association. https:// www. gfoa. org / materials / establishingan-economic-development-incentive- policy xii
Alternatives to business improvement areas and other economic development tools | Business Improvement Area handbook.( n. d.). ontario. ca. https:// obiaa. com / wp-content / uploads / 2019 / 11 / BIA-HANDBOOK-2010. pdf
xiii Planning Act, R. S. O. 1990, c. P. 13.( n. d.). Province of Ontario. https:// www. ontario. ca / laws / statute / 90p13 # BK48 xiv
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xvi Community Improvement Plans.( n. d.). Haldimand County. https:// www. haldimandcounty. ca / business-buildingdevelopment / invest-grow-haldimand / incentives / community-improvementplans /#:~: text = Haldimand ' s % 20CIP % 20 Program % 20allows % 20us, more % 20 broadly % 20with % 20economic % 20 development.
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Housing for Hamilton Community Improvement Plan.( 2024). City of Hamilton. https:// www. hamilton. ca / build-invest-grow / planningdevelopment / community-improvementplans-and-financial-incentives
xviii Brownfield Redevelopment Community Improvement Plan | City of Windsor.( n. d.). https:// www. citywindsor. ca / residents / planning / development-incentives / Brownfield-Redevelopment-Community- Improvement-Plan xix
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City of London Planning and Economic Development & RCI Consulting.( 2024). Industrial Lands Community Improvement Plan [ Report ]. https:// london. ca / sites / default / files / 2024-05 / Industrial _ Lands _ CIP _ 2024 _ AODA. pdf
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
KAI LIEPINS Kai Liepins is a skilled public servant, former consultant, and educator and has contributed to 20 + economic development, workforce and tourism strategy projects both in Australia and North America.
Kai currently works as a Strategy Analyst for City of Greater Geelong where he is supporting the delivery of the Council Plan 2025-29 and supports the governance of the City’ s Strategy Planning Catalogue. Kai previously worked as a Senior Economic Development Officer at Hobsons Bay City Council for 2.5 years where he led the development of the City’ s Economic Development Strategy 2024-29. Kai started his professional career at MDB Insights- a boutique consulting firm in Canada, since acquired by Deloitte- where he worked with communities across North America developing strategic plans. Kai’ s mission is to find, listen, and share in creative ways the unique stories that define us – as individuals, communities, and countries.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT JOURNAL VOL 18 NO 1 2025 11