Township looks to build on 2025 successes with continued community improvement funding

Galen Simmons, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The Township of Wellesley’s Community Improvement Plan (CIP) continues to play a role in supporting local businesses, heritage properties and community spaces with several projects completed in 2025 through the program’s financial incentive grants.

Senior planner Bobby Soosaar presented council with an annual update on the CIP during the township’s Jan. 27 committee of the whole meeting, outlining how the program was used over the past year and recommending council continue offering the same suite of incentives in 2026. Council ultimately voted to approve the staff recommendation.

“Township council approved an update to the community improvement plan back in the spring of 2025 and, with that, we opened it up to the community and got some uptake from local businesses and property owners,” Soosaar said. “So, this report is essentially a summary of the projects that we funded and fulfills the monitoring aspect of the CIP, which was recommended in the community improvement plan.”

The updated CIP builds on the township’s original 2017 plan while expanding eligibility and introducing new grant streams. Enabled under the Planning Act, a community improvement plan allows municipalities to offer grants and incentives aimed at revitalizing designated areas, improving building stock and encouraging economic growth.

According to the report, the township received four complete CIP applications in 2025, three of which have already resulted in completed projects, with a fourth still underway. While council approved $30,000 for CIP grants last year, $15,000 in grants was paid out for eligible projects with an additional $2,500 committed once the remaining project is finished.

Among the completed projects was a façade improvement at the Heidelberg Motel on Lobsinger Line, where traditional-style columns were added to better reflect the village’s architectural heritage. The project received a $5,000 façade improvement grant.

Another $5,000 façade grant supported exterior masonry repairs and repainting at Hunke Homes on Queen’s Bush Road in the Village of Wellesley, a building designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. The Apple Butter and Cheese Festival also received $5,000 through the signage improvement program to replace its longstanding sign on Queen’s Bush Road, helping promote tourism and strengthen the village’s identity.

A landscaping improvement project at Galick Packaging on Gerber Road, which includes new tree planting, river rock and relocating waste receptacles away from public walkways, remains in progress and is expected to receive $2,500 upon completion.

The township’s CIP includes several incentive programs designed to support a wide range of improvements. These include rebates to offset planning application and building permit fees, grants for façade, signage and landscaping improvements, funding to improve building safety and accessibility, and support for converting or expanding existing buildings for commercial or housing use.

Newer programs introduced with the updated CIP include grants for additional dwelling units, agri-tourism projects, placemaking and pedestrian improvements, and a small sustainability top-up grant aimed at encouraging energy efficiency and green initiatives.

Staff recommended council authorize up to $30,000 in CIP funding for eligible projects in 2026 and continue offering the same programs, citing steady interest from property owners and the visible results achieved in 2025. At the end of last year, the CIP reserve fund sat at approximately $63,600, with a $20,000 contribution approved in the 2026 budget.

“I’m a little curious; we’ve got $30,000 that you’ve identified to use this year. There’s a balance in that account of $60,000. … I guess I’m just kind of confused as to why we wouldn’t use that entire amount of money?” Mayor Joe Nowak asked during the committee of the whole meeting.

Beyond the fact that council’s $30,000 allocation for CIP grants in 2025 wasn’t fully depleted, Soosaar told Nowak staff like to keep a larger balance in the CIP reserve fund for two reasons – to fund updates to the CIP when necessary and in case a larger project is brought forward that would require all or more funding than what council allocates to the program each year.

“We keep money there in case of situations where there is maybe a project that comes in that’s unforeseen that might create a pretty significant benefit to the community,” Soosaar said. “So, perhaps there’s a property that comes in and they’re in a core area somewhere, and they want to redevelop. We say, ‘That’s a great idea, but we don’t have enough allocated this year.’ In those cases, we would come back to (council) and say, ‘This is a pretty important project to the community, would you be willing to increase that allocated amount?’

“ … We can designate this as a priority site … and we can up the amount of funding for priority sites. … So, let’s say one of the grants is worth up to $5,000; if we designate a priority site, it can double to $10,000.”

By bringing a larger CIP grant application back to council, Soosaar said councillors have the opportunity to review the project, determine the scope of funding and allocate additional funding to ensure other eligible projects don’t miss out.

Township staff will continue to report annually on CIP uptake and promote the program through the township’s website, social media and direct outreach to businesses and property owners. Following the approval of this year’s $30,000 CIP allocation, Soosaar said staff will advertise the program directly with businesses to encourage uptake.