County of Brant, in consultation with the Agricultural Advisory Committee, has prepared a draft Rural Prosperity Community Improvement Plan (RPCIP), and is seeking resident input from the rural community
In an email to the Brant Beacon, Zach Gable, Director of Economic Development and Tourism, said that the RPCIP builds on the success of the Downtown Community Improvement Plans (CIPs), and presents an opportunity to implement similar programs in other areas of the County.
“Rural focused CIPs have been undertaken in a number of communities in Ontario and provide a mechanism to encourage investment and community vibrancy in the agricultural industry,” he explained. “Specifically in Brant, there is an opportunity to further support the agricultural and tourism sectors. The RPCIP complements a number of initiatives undertaken by the County such as On-Farm Diversified Use policies previously implemented.”
Gable went on to explain that at its core, the RPCIP is a proposed grant program designed to help offset costs for improving existing farms and rural buildings.
“The Rural Prosperity Community Improvement Plan is intended to support farms, rural businesses, tourism operators, and commercial properties within the County’s rural communities,” he said. “The program aims to help reduce the cost of building improvements, signage upgrades, the adaptive reuse of older structures, and required planning or building approvals. As detailed in the County’s Economic Development Strategy, the goal is to strengthen the County’s rural economy, support farm viability, and ensure rural communities remain active and welcoming.”
According to the EngageBrant project page, the intention of the draft RPCIP is to:
- Identify eligible properties and users such as
- Farmers and farm businesses, including those with on-farm diversified uses.
- Farms that are adding Additional Residential Units [ARUs].
- Commercial and mixed-use buildings in rural communities.
- Rural tourism businesses outside the three urban areas [Paris, St. George and Burford].
- Offer several grant programs, for example:
- Façade improvement grants for exterior upgrades.
- Signage improvement grants.
- Property and parking improvement grants for landscaping, parking, and active transportation.
- Application fee grants for certain planning and building approvals.
- Adaptive commercial reuse grants for converting buildings to eligible commercial uses.
- Housing and residential unit improvement grants for ARUs and mixed-use buildings.
- Set clear eligibility rules and an application process, including pre-consultation, Council approval or delegated staff approval, and inspection before payment.
As stated in the draft plan, the overall objectives of the program include:
- Fostering agri-tourism, on-farm education, and experiential activities that showcase rural life and agriculture as well supporting existing tourism operations in the rural areas.
- Promoting direct selling of locally produced agricultural goods through farm stands and other local outlets.
- Facilitating investment in commercial and mixed-use properties that preserve the unique character of the County’s hamlets and villages.
- Supporting the development of ARUs on agricultural properties to address housing needs, enable multigenerational living, and create supplemental income opportunities, and
- Encouraging the preservation of rural and agricultural land, helping existing landowners continue to operate a successful/viable on-farm business.
County farmers, rural tourism operators, and agricultural societies are all encouraged to review the draft plan, and share their feedback with the County as it will help ensure the draft plan is on the right track and shape any changes that may be needed before it goes to Council in the spring.
“The survey is intended for those that would access the program,” said Gable. “…In some cases, tenants may also participate, provided they have written consent from the property owner. As these are the end users of the program, we look to these groups to share their opinions.”
For those wondering how they can provide their feedback, they can do so by participating in the survey either online, in print (hard copies are available for pick up at the main County of Brant Customer Service locations until Friday, February 13, at 4:30 p.m) or over the phone by calling 519-442-7268 or 1-855-442-7268.
Additionally, there will be three open house events at the following locations:
- Wednesday, January 28, 2026 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Onondaga Community Hall, 42 Brantford St., Onondaga
- Wednesday, January 28, 2026 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Oakland Community Centre (3 King St. North, Oakland)
- Thursday, January 29, 2026 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Glen Morris Centennial Hall (17 Dunbar St., Glen Morris)
Engagement for the draft RPCIP will officially close on Friday, February 13, 2026. For those who have further questions about the program, a link to the list of frequently asked questions can be found here.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
