As part of Lincoln’s vision – a place to grow, a place to prosper, a place to belong – the Town recently implemented a new Industrial Lands and Rural Areas Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to assist in making Lincoln an appealing destination for investment to ensure jobs and growth within the community.
The new CIP is looking to unlock the Town’s current supply of underutilized and vacant industrial land, as well as encourage value-added agriculture within the rural areas.
“These incentive programs are tools that the Town is using to help grow and diversify our economy”, said Paul Di Ianni, the Town of Lincoln’s Economic Development Officer. Lincoln is the first community in Niagara to offer incentive programs for our rural areas to help encourage value-added agriculture focusing on ‘on-farm diversification’.
Industrial Land
One of the key objectives of the CIP program is to give municipal led financial incentives to land owners, or developers, to foster new industrial growth, focusing on underutilized land while encouraging business expansion among existing businesses.
The Industrial Lands and Rural Areas CIP was one of three interrelated projects completed in the Fall of 2018 (including an Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan, and an Employment Lands Supply and Demand Analysis) all aimed at increasing the economic competitiveness of Lincoln.
Incentive programs have an incredible benefit to the local economy as for every public dollar granted through the CIP incentive programs, there is an approximate $13 of private sector investment generated.
Rural Areas
Lincoln is looking to capitalize on a full range of agricultural-related activities including prime agriculture and agri-tourism, both of which play a large role in the local economy.
In addition, the Town is looking to incentivize further development of ‘value-added’ agricultural uses in ‘On-Farm Diversification’ and ‘Agricultural – Related’ uses in the town’s rural areas. Value Added uses are considered economically sustainable agriculture practices which create an increased access to food and beverages, agricultural products and VQA wines while preserving the agricultural land base and maintaining the scenic allure of the regional landscape.
- ‘On-Farm Diversification’ examples include: Agri-tourism, Bed & Breakfast Establishments and Farm Wineries, Estate Wineries and Micro Breweries.
- ‘Agricultural-Related’ examples include: Farmers Markets selling local products grown in the area, Agricultural research centre, farm equipment repair shop and farm input suppliers (e.g. feed, seeds, and fertilizer).
As part of the Town of Lincoln’s Economic Development Strategy, Pathway to Prosperity, the vision is to create Lincoln into a Centre of Excellence for Agriculture focusing on value-added agriculture and agri-tourism. This CIP provides an opportunity to incentivize future projects and development to ensure Lincoln is a top destination for food and beverage manufacturing.
Exciting Times Ahead
These are prosperous times for Lincoln and Niagara.
Lincoln’s Industrial Lands and Rural Areas CIP is one of many attractive incentives adding to the already established development potential set for the right investor to capitalize on contributing to the future of the Niagara Region.
Lincoln has a buzz of economic activity on the horizon. Prudhommes Landing is a $1.2 billion development project and the last remaining undeveloped lakefront land along the Queen Elizabeth Highway. This monumental commercial and residential project, paired with the pending Beamsville GO Station along the Niagara GO transit corridor, leaves the Town of Lincoln feeling very ambitious and ready to maximize its economic growth.
We’re eagerly waiting to watch the Town of Lincoln grow.
Find out more information on Community Improvement Plans in the Town of Lincoln.