Financial Incentives
Municipal Programs
Success begets success, and Hamilton’s environment, people, and work ethic attract a significant pool of new businesses aligned with Hamilton’s economic development programs and keep our city on a positive economic trajectory. Below is a comprehensive list of the incentives and programs offered by the City of Hamilton. The City of Hamilton offers several programs for property owners and developers to help offset the costs of improvements and conversions of brownfields, heritage properties, core area properties and buildings and LEED-certified buildings.
Downtown Hamilton, Community Downtowns, Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), the Mount Hope / Airport Gateway, and the Commercial Corridors Program
To see if your property is located within an area where specific programs may be available, please click this link.
The City of Hamilton offers financial incentive programs in the form of loans and grants to assist with various costs associated with development in Downtown Hamilton, Community Downtowns, Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), the Mount Hope/Airport Gateway, and the commercial corridors as identified in the Revitalizing Hamilton’s Commercial Districts Community Improvement Project (for details on the CIP which authorizes these incentives, please visit www.hamilton.ca/cip).
There are also financial incentives for properties designated under the Ontario Heritage Act. The Revitalizing Hamilton’s Commercial Districts Community Improvement Project provides the basis for these programs. In addition, municipal Development Charges (DC) are reduced within the defined Downtown Hamilton Community Improvement Project Area. More information on current Development Charge rates can be found at https://www.hamilton.ca/budget-finance/development-charges/current-development-charge-rates-and-information.
Carlo Gorni
Coordinator, Urban Renewal Incentives
905-546-2424 ext. 2755
Contact Carlo Gorni
Environmental Remediation and Site Enhancement (ERASE) Programs for Brownfields
The ERASE Community Improvement Plan (CIP) and the Brownfield Office of the Economic Development Division are part of a long-standing commitment by the City to prioritize and support the investigation, remediation and redevelopment of vacant, derelict or under-utilized environmentally contaminated properties in the City; commonly referred to as brownfields.
The ERASE financial assistance programs are available within the City’s Historically Developed Area (HDA) and include cost-sharing grants for environmental investigative studies, tax-increment-based grants, tax cancellation and/or low-interest loans, and grants specifically for remediation required for not-for-profit housing developments.
Please click here to view a map of the City’s HDA for program availability.
Phil Caldwell
Senior Project Manager, Urban Renewal
905-546-2424 ext. 2359
Contact Phil Caldwell
hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: “5638396”, formId: “dd586918-6262-47ed-9a17-f2e450dead0f” });LEED Grant Program – City of Hamilton’s Leeding the Way CIP
City staff are reviewing the Hamilton LEEDing the Way Community Improvement Plan comprehensively. A dedicated Engage Hamilton page will be available to help you learn how to participate and collect your input.
The LEED Grant program intends to provide an economic catalyst for sustainable building and land development practices within the LEEDING the Way Community Improvement Project Area (for details of the CIP that authorizes these incentives, please visit www.hamilton.ca/cip).
The grant program aims for the City to share the incremental construction cost, consultation, energy modelling, and certification fees with the applicant to achieve LEED certification. Grants are calculated based on the official certification rating under the LEED rating system by the Canadian Green Building Council (CaGBC).
The program authorizes for each approved grant application a five-year grant, the amount of which is subject to Council approval, in an amount not exceeding the increase in municipal realty taxes as a direct result of the development/redevelopment of land and/or building. The grant which Council may approve shall be an amount which does not exceed 75 per cent of the municipal realty tax increase during the grant term. Special charges shall be excluded from the calculation to determine the eligible amount of the increase in municipal realty taxes. The grant would reduce the effect of an increase in municipal (City portion only) realty taxes attributable to the differential between pre-development and post-development assessments. The approved grant is assignable. The grant program may be applied with other incentive programs offered by the City of Hamilton, except for other Tax Incremental Financing programs.
To learn more about the program, contact:
Phil Caldwell
Senior Project Manager, Urban Renewal
Phone: 905-546-2424 ext. 2359
Email: phil.caldwell@hamilton.ca
Phil Caldwell
Senior Project Manager, Urban Renewal
905-546-2424 ext. 2359
Contact Phil Caldwell
hbspt.forms.create({ portalId: “5638396”, formId: “dd586918-6262-47ed-9a17-f2e450dead0f” });Energy Efficiency – Programs and Solutions
Below is a list of energy programs and solutions offered by Alectra Energy Solutions. Click “more information” for a program overview and contact details under each solution.