Give business a break: Sudbury councillor wants financial incentives for business.

• Author: Kelly, Lindsay
• Position: SUDBURY

Fabio Bell wants Sudbury to grow, and he wants the city to offer entrepreneurs financial incentives to make it happen.

Belli, a city councillor who sits on the board of the Greater Sudbury Development Corp. (GSDC) and the Planning Committee, amongst others, believes increasing the city's revenue means expanding its tax base. And the best way to do that, he contends, is by bringing more businesses to the city. I

"We call ourselves business-friendly--we're 'open for business'--so why aren't those businesses coming to this community?" he questioned. "A lot of the feedback I'm hearing is cost; we have the highest industrial tax in Ontario right here in our community."

In September, Bell tabled a motion requesting staff to research the potential in instating municipally granted incentives that would entice new and existing business owners to invest, establish and expand business in Sudbury Council supported the motion unanimously, and a report detailing potential options and criteria is expected in February.

Under Belli's plan, which is in its nascent stage, businesses that meet predetermined criteria could benefit from tax breaks and lowered development and permitting fees over a three- to five-year period while they become established. Criteria could include, for example, setting up a business that will create 30 good-paying jobs.

"Ideally, job creation is happening, there are people spending money in the community buying homes, paying taxes, and that's one of the best ways of generating revenue to pay for a lot of our deficits, projects or services," Belli said.

Sudbury has much to offer entrepreneurs, he noted. A central location, amenities, shopping and a natural environment all attract people to the city.

But development fees totalling thou sands of dollars are discouraging business owners from establishing their ventures in Sudbury, Belli said. In the past, businesses have bypassed the city in favour of North Bay, Sturgeon Falls, or other nearby communities that either offer incentives or have lower costs associated with establishing a business.

Belli believes Sudbury needs to take a page out of...