The Town of Fort Frances is undertaking a review of its Community Improvement Plan (CIP) to guide and support investment, new development and redevelopment, and revitalization activities in Fort Frances. The review will result in a new CIP, which will replace the Town’s existing CIP that was adopted in 2003 and last modified in 2008. As the existing CIP is over 20 years old, the Town has identified that a comprehensive update is required to better support community revitalization and reflect current economic development priorities in Fort Frances.

The Town’s existing CIP can be viewed here.

What is a Community Improvement Plan?

A CIP is a planning and economic development tool under Section 28 of the Planning Act that municipalities can prepare to promote community revitalization and beautification, and to help achieve economic, community planning, and development goals. The CIP is intended to encourage investment by helping private property owners to offset the costs of their development, redevelopment, and property improvement projects through a series of Financial Incentive Programs, such as grants.

The new CIP’s focus will be to:

  • Promote and attract investment in the Town as a destination for business and industry, new housing opportunities, and tourism;
  • Encourage a sense of place and community vibrancy, participation, and well-being;
  • Prioritize beautification initiatives, such as streetscaping, wayfinding, and public realm improvements, through municipal leadership initiatives and private investment;
  • Encourage revitalization and development of underutilized or vacant properties; and
  • Support the redevelopment of larger areas in the Town that are identified for redevelopment, such as the Fort Frances Mill properties, Shevlin Wood Yard, and Gateway Area;

How can my property or business benefit from the CIP?

The CIP will contain a series of Financial Incentive Programs, such as grants and municipal fee reductions. These programs will be available to property owners, existing and future business owners, and tenants (with the property owner’s permission) for proposed improvement projects, within a designated Community Improvement Project Area, that meet the general and program-specific Eligibility Requirements that will be outlined in the CIP.

Will my property or business be eligible for Financial Incentive Programs under the new CIP?

The CIP will apply to all private properties located within the boundaries of the designated Community Improvement Project Area (CIPA). As part of the CIP Review, the existing CIPA will be reviewed and may be modified. In the existing CIP, the following three (3) CIPAs are established, which together comprise the entire municipal boundary of the Town:

  1. Resources Development Project Area;
  2. Mid-Town Industrial Project Area; and
  3. Downtown Core and Waterfront Project Area.

The Town’s new Official Plan (Council Adoption: January 13, 2025; Ministerial Approval with Modifications: October 30, 2025) identifies two (2) CIPAs for which a CIP could be prepared:

  1. Downtown Community Improvement Project Area, which includes all lands designated as Mixed Use on Schedule A-1 and A-2 to the Official Plan (Section 9.3.1(c), Official Plan); and
  2. Brownfield Community Improvement Project Area, which includes all lands designated as Industrial Employment and Highway Commercial on Schedules A-1 and A-2 (Section 9.3.1.(e), Official Plan).

How can I get involved in the CIP project?

Please check this website regularly to stay informed on CIP project updates and to review reports as they become available. The following opportunities to provide your input into the Town’s new CIP are coming up in Summer 2026:

  • Draft CIP Background and Recommendations Report to be made available for public review
  • Survey launch and in-person Public Open House to introduce the CIP project, and gather community input on community improvement goals and priorities
  • Draft CIP to be made available for public review, and presented at a virtual Public Open House and Statutory Public Meeting

It is anticipated that the Final CIP will be considered for Council adoption in early Fall 2026.

For more information about the CIP project, please contact:

John Burrows

Municipal Planner / Chief Building Official

Town of Fort Frances

P: 807-274-5323 ext. 1216

E: jburrows@fortfrances.ca