About the program

The Site Readiness Program provides financial support to property owners to complete site preparatory work for an eligible industrial property.

Industrial properties that have completed the Site Readiness Program are attractive to investors and site selectors because they have access to important background information on the site’s availability, utilities, transportation access and/or environmental records needed to make a site selection decision quickly.

Benefits

Applicants can receive reimbursement of 50% of eligible expenses, up to a maximum of $25,000 per application, upon completion of the program.

Eligible expenses include costs of completing a range of site due diligence assessments and documentation prepared by qualified professionals that meet municipal and provincial standards, including:

  • Arborist Report/Tree Survey
  • Archaeological Study (Stage 1,2,3 and/or 4)
  • Conservation Authority studies/drawings
  • Drainage Plan
  • Environmental Impact Study (EIS)
  • Environmental Site Assessment Phase I, II (ESA)
  • Erosion/ Sediment Control Plan
  • Geotechnical Study/Slope Stability Study
  • Grading Plan
  • Groundwater Impact Study
  • Heritage Impact Assessment
  • Hydrogeological Report
  • Hydrological Report
  • Natural Heritage Impact Study
  • Noise Impact Study
  • Pedestrian Level Wind Study
  • Planning Rationale Report
  • Servicing Options Report
  • Soil Management Report
  • Species at Risk Assessments/Mitigation Report
  • Stormwater Management Report
  • Topographic Survey Plan
  • Tree Preservation Plan
  • Transportation Impact Study
  • Utility Plan
  • Vibration Study

For a full list of eligible expenses, please see the Site Readiness Program Guide.

Eligibility

For the full list of eligibility requirements, please read the Site Readiness Program Guide.

You can also request a copy of the instructions and program guide by emailing investmentready@ontario.ca or by calling 1-855-585-0475.

Minimum eligibility requirements to apply for the program

The following are the minimum requirements that your property must have, and property owners must follow to be eligible for the program.

  • an application may be submitted for one (1) site that could consist of multiple lots. If the site is a combination of multiple lots, the lots must have the same registered owner on title. Property owner(s) must be willing to enter into a contract with the province to participate in the program
  • all properties must be designated for industrial uses in the approved municipal Official Plan and zoned within the municipality’s comprehensive Zoning By-Law to permit a wide range of industrial uses. A Plan of Subdivision must be available for properties located within designated business and industrial parks
  • the property site must consist of at least five acres or 2.02 hectares of vacant, contiguous Net Developable Area. The property must be vacant and free from existing buildings
  • the property must have existing public road access or must be accessible by public road
  • properties must have a minimum of two of the five services listed below, at the lot line or within 500 meters of the lot line at the time of acceptance into the program:
    • municipal water
    • municipal wastewater
    • electricity
    • natural gas
    • telecommunication

For the remaining services that are not present at the lot line or within 500 metres of the lot line, applicants must demonstrate that the site is serviceable within two years of acceptance into the program as confirmed by one or more of the following supporting documents:

  • providing the Municipality’s servicing plan and demonstrating that the Site is within the Municipality’s Urban Boundary
  • public utilities commission modelling
  • development or servicing agreements
  • a letter of confirmation from utility service providers

Sites zoned for dry industrial uses, which are not serviced by municipal water and/or wastewater, must demonstrate that there is sufficient water capacity to support permitted uses under the respective municipality’s zoning by-law, with a Hydrogeological Study prepared by a qualified professional.

  • the property or properties must be free from development constraints that could impact the developable area or range of industrial or other employment uses permitted on the property. Potential constraints could include, but not limited to:
    • restrictions on title
    • identified flood zones or the presence of provincially significant natural heritage features
    • holding symbols on the property listed in the zoning by-law
    • future planned roads or existing rights-of-way
  • the site must be available for sale for a period of one year following the date acceptance into the program, unless the site is sold
  • applications must be sponsored and endorsed by either the municipality or regional Economic Development Organization and from the Chief Planning Official or their delegate

How to apply

Step 1: Schedule a pre-application consultation

The complimentary pre-application consultation with program staff is a required first step in your application to the program. Pre-application consultations are your chance to determine if your property meets the minimum eligibility criteria of the program and discuss ways to strengthen your application.

To arrange a pre-application consultation contact us:

1-855-585-0475
 investmentready@ontario.ca

Key dates:

  • pre-application consultation open: October 15, 2021
  • application period open: October 15, 2021
  • application period close: March 1, 2022
  • notification of acceptance: May 9, 2022

Step 2: Submit your application package

You may submit a formal application package when the pre-application consultation has been completed and your site has been reviewed by the program staff.

Following the pre-application consultation, you will receive an invitation to submit a formal application package that consists of an application form and supporting documentation through Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON).

Step 3: Notice of acceptance

Once you have submitted your complete application and supporting documentation through TPON, a review committee will evaluate your application.

Even if your property fulfills the minimum requirements, it does not guarantee that your site will be accepted into the program.

The number of sites we approve depends on:

  • the number of applications we receive
  • funding availability

We will notify you if your site has been accepted into the program within 45 business days. If your site has been accepted, the ministry will issue a contract to formalize your participation in the program.

Step 4: Complete workplan and reimbursement

Once you have signed the contract and are accepted into the program, you have one year to:

  • complete the work as outlined in the proposed work plan in your application
  • submit invoices for eligible expenses for reimbursement, if applicable
  • work together with the Ministry to maintain your site in our inventory of available industrial sites for potential investments for site selectors and investors

Contact us

If you have any questions, need help applying or want to take part in an information session to learn more about the program:

1-855-585-0475
 investmentready@ontario.ca

Set up a pre-application consultation

Contact the program staff to find out if your industrial property could be eligible and what type of information and documents you will have to provide:

1-855-585-0475
 investmentready@ontario.ca