CIP program exceeds budget, closes until 2020

By Kaitlyn Clark

The Haldimand Press

HALDIMAND—Community Improvement Program (CIP) grants were approved unanimously for businesses in Jarvis, Rainham, and  Dunnville, totalling almost $80,000 and exceeding the current program budget by over $28,000.

The property at 2022 Main St. N., Jarvis operated as Bronco’s Tavern for over 40 years and was previously awarded a grant for new awnings. Bronco’s was recently purchased and closed last Friday. The new owners are planning “significant renovations” to reconfigure the entire space to support a variety of new businesses, including personal services, a yoga/fitness studio and multi-purpose event space, paramedical services, a café, a rentable commercial kitchen, and two apartment units on the upper floor.

Work will include everything from the replacement of windows, doors, eaves, and more, to new painting, flooring, electrical, and more. They have been approved for $15,000 for façade and accessibility improvements, $5,000 for fee refunds, and $30,000 for downtown housing grants. The $50,000 grant is about 11% of the total project cost of $439,306.

“Broncos just closed last Friday, so it’s great to see the new owners are being so proactive,” said Councillor Stew Patterson. “It’s a double-edged sword to fully use the funding halfway through the year.”

“The proposed improvements in the application could be transformational for downtown Jarvis,” said the staff report, noting the need for additional housing options. “The addition of a café and recreation space are particularly important to downtown revitalization projects as they help make the downtown a destination for residents and visitors.”