Sluggish economic growth? No way.
Innisfail is experiencing its own building boom amidst a provincial climate of doom and gloom.
In fact, recent building permit statistics released by the Town of Innisfail show the town, just after the first five months of 2016, outpacing figures for the entire years of 2015 and 2014.
Statistics show the total building permit value in Innisfail for the first five months is almost $12.7 million. For the entire year of 2015 it was $8.2 million, while in 2014 the 12-month total was just over $12.2 million.
However, there is plenty of catching up to do to get near the totals for 2013 and 2012. The total value of building permits for 2013 was more than $21.4 million while in 2012 it was just over $15.5 million.
Nevertheless, town officials are pleased with the current construction activity going on this summer in Innisfail. Leading the way is the ongoing $8.3 modernization project at the Innisfail Schools Campus. There was also the recently completed $1.9-million clubhouse at the Innisfail Golf Club.
And what has really put big smiles on the faces of town hall officials is the new $400,000 commercial development by C&B Electric at 4908 – 51 Ave., a project that will house three new businesses.
“Our economy is not as tied to the energy sector as much as other communities are,” said Mayor Brian Spiller. “We have a vibrant and diversified economy and it shows in an off year when the rest of the province is struggling. We still have activity going on in our town, and nice activity too.”
Andrew Cohrs, the town's development officer, also notes there are current $800,000 upgrades at Fourlane Ford, the recent $250,000 renovation at Tim Hortons and the $175,000 upgrade at Dairy Queen.
On the residential development side, there is the construction of the $2- million row house development in Aspen Heights. As well, Discovery Wildlife Park is building its new 66-unit campground with a development permit valued at $20,000.
And later this summer construction will begin on the first phase of the modernization and expansion of town hall, a project that will have a total cost of about $2.2 million, including $1.6 million this year.
“We are upgrading this building (town hall) this year, and putting $300,000 into our trails. We keep doing our work to keep the economy going too,” said Spiller.
But the mayor added that while Innisfail's current economic climate is healthy, bolstered by a zero per cent budget for citizens in 2016, it could all change next year when the provincial government's new carbon tax comes into play.
“Things will be different. I bet you we can't keep a zero per cent tax without cutting services,” said Spiller, whose office is expecting a report from the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association later this summer that will give the town an idea on how the carbon tax will impact Innisfail.
“We could keep a zero per cent tax but with this new carbon tax we would have to cut services or programs in the town,” he said. “We don't want to do that.”
Mayor Brian Spiller
"We have a vibrant and diversified economy and it shows in an off year when the rest of the province is struggling. We still have activity going on in our town, and nice activity too."
