| Incentives and Supports for Businesses in Norfolk County |
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Norfolk County, through its commitment to deliver programs to retain, grow and attract business and industry in all sectors of its economy, offers the following incentives, supports and other initiatives for businesses. Cooperative Marketing Support
Incentives
Other Initiatives Other Resources on norfolkbusiness.ca
Tourism Marketing Partner Program Who can apply: Any business or organization that targets tourists (visitors to Norfolk County who typically travel at least 80 km from their home on a day-trip or overnight) can apply. Benefits: Exposure of the tourism partner business or organization in Norfolk County’s tourism marketing program, including the annual Experience Guide, norfolktourism.ca, travel service social media links, and other promotional opportunities, such as trade shows, travel writer tours, and more. Involvement in the partnership also exposes the business to other opportunities, such as the annual Tourism & Agriculture Symposium (held each January), marketing partner focus groups, Canadian Motorcycle Show, Outdoor Show, etc. How it works: Register as a partner, provide information about your tourism experience, keep us informed of news or updates, and we’ll include you with other partners in our promotions. Deadlines: Join at any time, as the partner’s web listing is immediately posted. Other initiatives within the program are time-sensitive, including the Experience Guide (advertising deadline early January). In the case of trade shows, requests for participation in promotions, writer tours, etc., partners must respond to in a timely manner to bulletins about these opportunities in order to be included. Cost: No cost to apply. Program fees range from $150 to $250 per year, plus tax, depending on type of business. More information: Visit the norfolktourism.ca website. Call Ted Willey, Business Development Coordinator, at 519-426-5870 ext 1300 or ted.willey@norfolkcounty.ca. Agriculture Marketing Partner Program Who can apply: Any farm, business or organization that sells a local food product (produce and/or processed food product), culinary experience featuring primarily local food, or an agricultural or local food experience or tour that people can purchase, can apply. Benefits: Exposure of the agriculture partner business in Norfolk County’s agriculture marketing program, including the annual Map and Local Food Guide, norfolkfarms.com, local food social media links, and other promotional opportunities, such as food writer tours and exposure, FlavourFest exhibit, cooking demonstrations and recipe book. Involvement in the partnership also exposes the business to other opportunities, such as the annual Tourism & Agriculture Symposium (held each January), marketing partner focus groups, Canadian National Exhibition, Taste of Ontario, events aimed at fans of local food, etc. How it works: Register as a partner, provide information about your farm or culinary experience, keep us informed of news or updates, and we’ll include you with other partners in our promotions. Deadlines: Join at any time, as the partner’s web listing is immediately posted. Other initiatives within the program are time-sensitive, including the Experience Guide (deadline early November) and the recipe book (deadline early July). In the case of trade shows, requests for participation in promotions, writer tours, etc., partners must respond to in a timely manner to bulletins about these opportunities in order to be included. Cost: No cost to apply. Programs fees start at $150 per year, plus tax. More information: Visit norfolkfarms.com. Call Ted Willey, Business Development Coordinator, at 519-426-5870 ext 1300 or ted.willey@norfolkcounty.ca. Tourism Directional Signage Program Who can apply: Any tourism partner business or organization that is eligible for signage under the program can apply. Benefits: High-profile signage on roads and streets directing tourists to your location. How it works: The business develops a proposed signage plan. Norfolk County staff work with the business to get the plan approved. Once a contract is approved, the signage is produced and installed for a period of three years. Cost: No cost to apply. Signage programs start at $308 per sign, for partners, plus tax. Total cost depends on number and type/size of sign(s) approved. More information: Visit norfolkbusiness.ca. Call Linda D’Hondt-Crandon, Economic Development Coordinator, at 519-426-5870 ext 1264 or email linda.dhondt-crandon@norfolkcounty.ca. Agriculture Directional Signage Program Who can apply: Any farm, business or organization that sells a local food product (produce and/or processed food product), culinary experience featuring primarily local food, or an agricultural or local food experience or tour that people can purchase, and that is eligible for signage under the program, can apply. Benefits: High-profile signage on roads and streets directing traffic to your location. How it works: The applicant develops a proposed signage plan. Norfolk County staff work with the business to get the plan approved. Once a contract is approved, the signage is produced and installed for a period of three years. Cost: No cost to apply. Signage programs starts at $308 per sign, for partners, plus tax. Total cost depends on number and type/size of sign(s) approved. More information: Visit norfolkbusiness.ca. Call Linda D’Hondt-Crandon, Economic Development Coordinator, at 519-426-5870 ext 1264 or email linda.dhondt-crandon@norfolkcounty.ca. Who can apply: Owners of commercial properties, primarily in downtown areas can apply. Benefit: The property owner may receive an interest-free loan from the municipality equal to half of the eligible expenses of the facade improvement project. A portion of the loan may be forgivable if conditions are met. How it works: The property owner draws up a plan and provides at least two quotes on the proposed work from contractors. An application is made to Norfolk County and an agreement between the property owner and the municipality must be prepared and approved by Norfolk County prior to any work beginning. Cost: Currently, there is no application fee. More information: Visit norfolkbusiness.ca. Call Linda D’Hondt-Crandon, Economic Development Coordinator, at 519-426-5870 ext 1264 or email linda.dhondt-crandon@norfolkcounty.ca. Tax Increment Grant for Redevelopment Who can apply: Owners of brownfields and derelict buildings and land who are planning a major redevelopment of the property can apply. Benefit: The property owner may receive a portion of their paid property taxes rebated over several years. How it works: The property owner prepares a development plan in cooperation with the municipality, itemizing the eligible expenses of the project. The property owner finances and develops the property, and then the property is reassessed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. Based on the difference between the pre- and post-development assessments, the municipality rebates a percentage of the property taxes paid each year. The total rebate cannot exceed the total eligible expenses of the project. Prior to any work being started, an agreement between the property owner and the municipality must be prepared and approved by Norfolk County Council. Cost: Currently, there is no application fee. More information: Visit norfolkbusiness.ca. Call Linda D’Hondt-Crandon, Economic Development Coordinator, at 519-426-5870 ext 1264 or email linda.dhondt-crandon@norfolkcounty.ca.
Norfolk County collects Development Charges when a developer applies for a building permit. However, Norfolk County exempts the following types of projects from development charges: Norfolk County caps building permit fees for industrial development at $25,000. Contact Fritz Enzlin, Chief Building Official, at 519-426-4377 ext. 2218 or fritz.enzlin@norfolkcounty.ca. Business / Industry Participation in Investment Attraction Who can apply: Any business or organization wishing to participate in Norfolk County’s efforts to attract new businesses, jobs and investment to the municipality can apply. Benefits: Exposure of the business/industry partner business or organization in Norfolk County’s investment attraction efforts, including the annual Economic Development Community Profile, norfolkbusiness.ca, and other promotional opportunities. How it works: Register as a partner, provide information about your tourism experience, keep Norfolk County informed of any news or updates, keep us in the loop, and Norfolk County will in clude your tourism experience with other partners in our promotions. Cost: No cost to apply. Program fees start at $150 per year, plus tax. More information: Visit norfolkbusiness.ca. Call Ted Willey, Norfolk County’s Business Development Coordinator, at 519-426-5870 ext 1300 or ted.willey@norfolkcounty.ca.
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