For the first time in a decade, the City of Grande Prairie is experiencing a surge in housing construction with $55.1 million in residential building permits recorded by from the beginning of the year until the end of June. 

According to officials, that number represents 230 new housing units in various stages of construction and anticipates 700 housing units will be started by the end of the year based on submitted development permit applications for larger multi-family developments.

City council has also increased funding for the Municipal Fee Rebate program to meet increasing demand and continue incentivizing the development of new multi-unit housing projects. The approved increase from council is from $1 million to $1.6 million, the funding will go towards supporting projects already underway and allow room for additional submissions before the program concludes at year-end.

Mayor Jackie Clayton says the surge seen for housing is representative of the confidence people and businesses have in the city’s future. 

“By expanding the Municipal Fee Rebate program, we’re not only supporting construction—we’re building community, expanding opportunity, and creating the conditions for residents to thrive,” Clayton says. 

Since the launch of the program in June of last year there has been a strong interest from the development community,  with 147 eligible projects submitted. The program offers a refund on select municipal fees for eligible multi-unit residential developments, including mixed-use buildings where residential space makes up most of the building.