By rdnewsNOW staff

Residential and business

Ponoka town council renews incentive programs

Dec 17, 2025 | 9:56 AM

Ponoka town council has renewed the Town of Ponoka residential and business incentive programs until Dec. 31, 2029.

The town says the purpose of the program is to attract new residents and businesses to the community.

These programs include the residential new build incentive, commercial new build incentive, major home renovation incentive, new business grant, and new resident incentive.

“Renovating, buying or building a home or business is a long-term decision and extending these programs for a council term provides potential new residents and businesses more time to complete the decision-making process and plan their move to Ponoka,” said Ponoka Mayor Kevin Ferguson in a media release. “Attracting new businesses and residents is all about helping Ponoka and our local economy grow and thrive into the future.”

For the residential new build incentive program, the town states that both new and existing residents who build or purchase a newly constructed home can qualify for the program. To qualify, applications must be received in the same year the development permit is issued.

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This incentive benefits citizens with tax savings over three years, including a 75 per cent reduction on the municipal portion of property taxes in the first year following the construction of a new home, a 50 per cent reduction in year two, and a 25 per cent reduction in year three.

The commercial new build incentive program allows businesses that build a new property in the community on commercially-zoned land to qualify.

This incentive benefits citizens with tax savings over three years, including a 75 per cent reduction on the municipal portion of property taxes in the first year following the construction of a new home, a 50 per cent reduction in year two, and a 25 per cent reduction in year three.

The major home renovation incentive program is for Ponoka residents who complete major renovations on their home that increase their property’s assessment value by at least 20 per cent.

Applications must be received by December 31 of the same year in which the major home renovation work begins.

This incentive benefits citizens with tax savings over three years, including a 75 per cent reduction on the municipal portion of property taxes in the first year following the construction of a new home, a 50 per cent reduction in year two, and a 25 per cent reduction in year three.

Examples of major renovations that may qualify include finishing a basement, building an attached or detached garage, major kitchen renovations or a complete renovation of a main living area.

The new business grant offers a one-time-per-business grant payment of up to $1,000 for businesses that are new to Ponoka and operate in town.

The business must hold a valid Town of Ponoka business licence or be exempt from requiring a business licence to be eligible. The grants are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and applications must be received by Dec. 31 of the same year they acquired a business license.

The new resident incentive program offers a free, one-year family recreation pass for new residents who buy and move into a home in town from outside of Ponoka.

The recreation pass allows free admission to the Ponoka Aquaplex and access to all of the building’s features, as well as free access to racquetball courts, drop-in programming and public skating/shinny hockey at the Ponoka Arena Complex.

Applications must be submitted in the same year as the applicant’s possession date of their new property.

For more information and to apply for the above incentive programs, please visit the Town of Ponoka website.