Business Expansion and Location Assistance

The City of Toronto’s Economic Development team provides the business community with personalized, direct access to City Hall, other governments and industry initiatives through a wide range of services.

Staff assist business in finding solutions to challenges by:

  • Helping address operational needs, resolve municipal issues and navigate regulatory systems
  • Acting as the link to City Hall
  • Providing site location information to aid in investment decisions
  • Assisting with business expansion, location and relocation within Toronto
  • Encouraging the purchase or lease of real estate for employment uses
  • Informing companies of business opportunities and facilitating innovative solutions through resource and knowledge sharing
  • Advocating for businesses on City-wide policy issues.

Contact your area Economic Development Officer for assistance.

Solving Problems

Helping businesses resolve issues is an important part of how staff can help. Typical problem resolution activities include issues related to:

  • Planning and building applications – facilitating submissions and expediting review
  • Negotiation of site planning matters to help facilitate expansions
  • Zoning by-law and permitted use assistance
  • Resolving parking and loading operations issues
  • Releasing letters of credit and financial securities
  • Facilitating hydro service improvements
  • Advising on applications to business incentives programs.

Gold Star Service to Guide and Expedite Development

Through the City’s Gold Star program for business City Planning, Economic Development and Toronto Building staff help expedite eligible industrial, commercial office and institutional Planning and Building projects in Toronto.

Each project that receives this service, is assigned an Economic Development Officer as part of the City Planning or Toronto Building case-managed team. The team provides customized one-on-one assistance to help businesses navigate the review and approval process.

Staff works proactively with the applicant, other City divisions, and agencies involved in development review, to identify approval requirements, resolve issues and ensure that the Gold Star project receives prompt attention.

For more information on Toronto’s Gold Star Service, contact John Alderdice, Manager, Business Retention & Expansion, Economic Development & Culture.

Advising on Business Incentive Programs

The City of Toronto’s Imagination, Manufacturing, Innovation, Technology (IMIT) financial incentive program supports the renovation or construction of buildings in Toronto. Up to 60 per cent of the increased property tax revenue created by new development is shared between the City and the property owner over the course of 10 years.

As part of the IMIT program, the Brownfield Remediation Tax Assistance program also provides property tax relief to help companies clean up contaminated sites and develop underutilized or vacant properties.

For more information on the IMIT program, contact incentives@toronto.ca.