By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Essex County Council officially has a Large Scale Industrial Grant Matching Program (LSI-GMP).
Essex County Council unanimously approved a by-law to offer the Grant Matching Program as a new Community Improvement Plan (CIP) Program for the County of Essex at the November 19 meeting.
It is an initiative that will offer financial incentives in matching local Economic Development CIPs from local municipalities to attract new, very large industrial development to Essex County.
The main incentive in the LSI-GMP is a property tax increment equivalent rebate program for the County’s portion of the property tax for eligible projects for a period up to ten-years.
It is also aimed at large-scale new job creation.
Rebecca Belanger, County of Essex’s Manager of Planning Services, has worked on creating the program for around three-years. She presented a report to County Council on the developing program at the September 17 meeting.
She then hosted a non-statutory public open house at the Essex Centre Sports Complex on Monday, October 20 to garner public feedback. There was a low turnout at the meeting. The only comment received was from two individuals who spoke of the size criteria for program eligibility.
Belanger explained previously that a vacant piece of land has a certain tax assessment. If an investment is made into the development of a 125,000-square-foot minimum plant, that tax assessment changes. Once it is known what the change in tax assessment is from the vacant to industrial, then if the municipality is giving back a tax rebate, the County would provide a matching contribution of the portion it would have received and give it back at 50% of the increase, up to ten-years.
If there is a party that doesn’t quite meet that eligibility, Belanger said previously they would still have an opportunity to come to the County and talk to administration. The plan can be brought forward to County Council for consideration to be included in the program.
This would land large investments and job creation in the County.
The intent is to have each application go before County Council for consideration for the program, based on the magnitude of the projects.
She explained that while a large-scale industrial development would be located in one county municipality, the County would all share the benefit together, with everyone benefitting from the spin-off.
She added previously it will help the County – a two-tier municipal region – compete with those areas that are single-tiered municipalities.
The Grant Matching program is meant to work in collaboration with the forthcoming Regional Employment Land Strategy, as a tool intended to assist the County in meeting the economic goals of the County’s Strategic Plan, Belanger said.
“The utilization of the program will be monitored to ensure the program remains responsive to economic conditions and balances fiscal responsibility,” she added, noting regular reporting will be undertaken for County Council. Adjustments can be made at anytime, at the direction of County Council.
Essex Mayor Sherry Bondy attended the open house and sees merit in having the LSI-GMP. She wanted to ensure if there are projects smaller than the minimum requirement there is a way they can approach County Council for potential approval.
Belanger noted adjustments to the minimum size criteria was reduced before the open house. In addition, there is an opportunity to present all projects and an assessment to Council. It will be up to County Council to decide on whether or not to support the projects.
In answering LaSalle Mayor Crystal Meloche’s question on the anticipated financial impact of having this program, Melissa Ryan, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer, does not believe there will be any impact in 2026 by the time it gets approved and accessed by MPAC. Discussion will have to take place to estimate impact on the 2027 Budget.
Realistically, Belanger said, if and when that happens, this will have to be presented to County Council and the financial implications will have to be identified, due to the scale of the initiative.
CAO Sandra Zwiers added the magnitude of the projects they envisioned for this program are going to return a sizeable increase to the revenue generation of the County on a weighted-assessment basis.
“The funding mode, in part, is also the realization of revenue we don’t currently collect from a large industrial property, which will help fund the program,” she explained.
More information about the program can be found at: https://www.countyofessex.ca/doing-business/planning-and-development/large-scale-industrial-grant-matching-program/
