City Announces Community Improvement Plan Grant Recipients

Today, the City announced recipients of the 2022 Community Improvement Plan (CIP) grant programs in the Harbourtown Centre and Keewatin area.

These programs provide funding for projects in specific areas of the municipality to support economic development, affordable housing, revitalization, accessibility, enhanced streetscapes and building facades. Council approved a program allocation of $200,000 for 2022 as a result of overwhelming demand from local businesses and property owners.

The majority of the grants are awarded at 50 percent of eligible project costs and require the applicant to provide, at minimum, a matching contribution. The funding awarded through the Community Improvement Plans supports significant private sector investment into properties which is a major driver of growth and development in Kenora.

The City of Kenora and the Heritage Kenora Committee approved eleven projects through the 2022 funding program. Successful grant recipients include:

Harbourtown Centre CIP Recipients
Recipients	Grants Received	Total Grant Funding	Private Investment
Randy Nickle 200 Main Street South	Planning and Design Façade Improvement Signage Accessibility Landscaping	$41,500	$138,940
Smith Falls Property Inc. 400 Second Street South	Landscaping	$780	$16,575
Graham and Graham Trading Co. 128 Main Street South	Façade Improvement Signage	$4,625	$7,935
Bob’s Burgers 152 Main Street South	Façade Improvement Signage	$14,310	$18,310
Century 21 213-215 Main Street South	Planning and Design Façade Improvement Signage Landscaping Accessibility Residential Conversion	$31,841	$109,432
Chipman Street Laundry 4 Chipman Street	Planning and Design Façade Improvement Signage	$19,000	$632,438
Halley's Camps 205 Main Street South	Signage	$1,925	$1,925
Salisbury Cruises 232 Water Street	Planning and Design Landscaping Accessibility	$15,112	$66,388
Sure Thing 137 Main Street South	Façade Improvement	$14,276	$24,513
The Zen Den 105 Main Street South	Façade Improvement Residential Conversion	$18,000	$38,800

Keewatin CIP Recipient
Recipient	Grants Received	Total Grant Funding	Private Investment
Two Bears Marina 105 Bay Street	Planning and Design Façade Improvement Signage Landscaping	$38,271	$46,729

Total Funding
Grand Total Grant Funding	Grand Total Private Investment
$199,640	$531,985

“Demand for the Community Improvement Plan programs has been very strong for the past four years and so we were excited to receive additional funding from Council to support more projects this year,” said Adam Smith, Director of Development Services.

The first City of Kenora Community Improvement Plan for the Harbourtown Centre was adopted by Council in 2007. The municipality currently has two additional programs in place for the Former Mill Site and Keewatin. Since 2017 and including 2022 projects, the City of Kenora has contributed $723,088 which will result in $2,039,226 in private sector investment.

“Council’s commitment to the CIP program demonstrates the significance our businesses have in our community and the continued investment from our businesses to ensure our community prospers and grows. This program demonstrates partnerships while investing in existing businesses and providing opportunities to attract new business to our community. Council is excited about the interest in this program and the investment from our local businesses ,” states Mayor Daniel Reynard.

For more information on the Community Improvement Plan programs, please contact Megan Dokuchie, Economic Development Officer, or Melissa Shaw, Planner.