Gateway CIP

Promotes projects that revitalize, strengthen and diversify strategic zones within Niagara.

The Niagara Gateway Economic Zone and Centre Community Improvement Plan supports projects that revitalize, strengthen and diversify strategic zones within five Niagara municipalities. Eligible projects can receive significant tax increment based grants to offset the increased taxes driven by higher property values at project completion as well as grants to offset development charges related to the investment.

Overview

The Niagara Gateway Economic Zone and Centre Community Improvement Plan (Gateway CIP) provides eligible projects with property tax reductions of between 40% and 100% for five to ten years to eligible property owners in the municipalities of Fort Erie, Niagara Falls, Port Colborne, Thorold and Welland. Those same projects are also eligible for grants to cover Regional Development Charges. Projects that promote private sector investment, development, redevelopment and construction activity in strategic zones that have been identified for each city may be eligible.

Two programs are available through the Gateway CIP:

Tax Increment Based Grant Program This program provides an incremental tax grant to completed projects within the Gateway Project Area based on the project’s economic and environmental design performance. Successful applicants will receive a tax rate rebate of a percentage of the post-project values, for a period of five or 10 years depending on the location of the project. Tax savings resulting from this program can be significant.

Regional Development Charge Grant Program This program recognizes exceptional projects – those that score 14 points or more according to the Gateway CIP evaluation criteria – and provides relief from Regional Development Charges for those projects. The Development Charge Grant payment is capped at $1.5 million.

Evaluation Process

Applications for Gateway CIP incentives are assessed based on a variety of different factors including the value of the construction project, the number of jobs the project will create or retain, the project’s environmental performance and adherence to Niagara Region’s Smart Growth Design Criteria.

Evaluation Scoring Matrix 

A maximum of 20 points is available, with a potential of 15 for economic performance and 5 for environmental design performance. The annual percentage of municipal property tax “rebated” will be based on the total project score out of 20.

Economic Performance 

Points for economic performance are awarded based on A: the construction value of the project and B: the number of full-time equivalent jobs created or retained by the project.

A. Construction Value

  • $200,000 – $1,999,999 = 1 Point
  • $2,000,000 – $9,999,999 = 2 Points
  • $10,000,000 – $39,999,999 = 3 Points
  • $40,000,000+ = 4 Points

B. Full-time Jobs Created or Retained

  • 1 – 9 = 5 Points
  • 10 – 19 = 6 Points
  • 20 – 34 = 7 Points
  • 35 – 50 = 8 Points
  • 51 – 74 = 9 Points
  • 75 – 100 = 10 Points
  • 100+ = 11 Points

Environmental Design Performance

Points in this category are applied based on either C, the project’s level of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification OR, D, the project’s conformity with Niagara Region’s Smart Growth Design Criteria.

C. Level of LEED Certification

  • Certified = 2 Points
  • Silver = 3 Points
  • Gold = 4 Points
  • Platinum = 5 Points

D. Smart Growth Design Criteria

  • Conforms with 3/6 Criteria = 2 Points
  • Conforms with 4 /6 Criteria = 3 Points
  • Conforms with 5/6 Criteria = 4 Points
  • Conforms with 6/6 Criteria = 5 points

The evaluation score is based on the following equation:

A + B + (C or D) = Gateway CIP Score

The Gateway CIP score generates the Tax Increment Based Grant (TIBG) amount. The percentage of property tax increase that is generated by the development project will be rebated for a duration of 5 or 10 years, depending on if the location of the project is within a Strategic Location for Investment.

Total Gateway CIP Score – TIBC Level

  • 0-7 = No Grant
  • 8 = 40%
  • 9 = 45%
  • 10 = 50%
  • 11 = 55%
  • 12 = 60%
  • 13 = 65%
  • 14 = 70%
  • 15 = 75%
  • 16 = 80%
  • 17 = 85%
  • 18 = 90%
  • 19 = 95%
  • 20 = 100%

Incentive programs described above are subject to cancellation and/or modification at any time. Applicants should contact Niagara Economic Development and/or their local Niagara municipality to obtain the most up-to-date information on incentive programs.

Contacts

For more information on the Gateway incentive programs, please contact Daniel Turner or the planning department for the municipality where your project is being planned.

Town of Fort Erie

City of Niagara Falls

City of Port Colborne

City of Thorold

City of Welland

Financial incentives

that are only available in Niagara Canada

Receive property tax rebates

based on your projects economic and environment impact

More than $42 million in incentives approved between 2015-2022

News & Media

$42+ million approved for Gateway incentives

2022

2nd most cost-competitive centre for business in Ontario

2022

$683.2 million 2022 non-residential building construction

Statistics Canada, 2022

$674.0 million 2021 non-residential building construction

Statistics Canada, 2022

$195.3 million /1.3 million square feet in 2022 industrial sales

2022

$256.3 million /1,125 acres in 2022 vacant land sales

2022

$142.3 million /309,000 square feet in 2022 hospitality building sales

2022

$321.7 million /1.7 million square feet in 2022 retail building sales

2022

$49.9 million /239,000 square feet in 2022 office sales

2022

  • Contact Us Today

    For general enquiries call 1-800-263-7215 x3334, email info@niagaracanada.com or fill out the form below.
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Daniel Turner

Manager, Strategic Growth Services

More About Daniel Turner

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