The Town of Ponoka is offering valuable incentive programs to new residents and businesses that move here to our community.
The Town created its New Resident and Business Incentive Programs to give you that extra nudge as you look for the perfect community to call home and to do business.
For details about our incentive programs, click the links below and start planning your move to Ponoka!
Business Incentive Programs
New Business Grant
Renewed until December 31, 2024
The New Business Grant offers a one-time-per-business grant payment of up to $1,000 for businesses that are new to Ponoka in 2024 and are located and operate in the Town.
The grant is also available to existing residents in the Town of Ponoka who start a new business in Town.
To be eligible, the business must hold a valid Town of Ponoka business licence or be exempt from requiring a business licence. Applications must be received in the same year in which the business licence was issued.
The grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Grant amounts can vary according to the business licence type:
Business Licence Type | Grant Amount without Purchase of Commercial Property | Total Grant Amount with Purchase of Commercial Property |
Resident Business Licence – Commercial | $750 | $1,000 |
Resident Business Licence – Residential | $250 | n/a |
To apply for the New Business Grant, please fill in this application form and phone (403) 783-0127 or email RealLiving@ponoka.ca for assistance. Or click here to contact us.
Commercial New Build Incentive
Renewed until December 31, 2025
Commercial businesses that build a new property in the Town of Ponoka on commercially-zoned land can qualify for this program.
To qualify, applications must be received in the same year in which the development permit is issued.
Whether you are a new or existing business in the Town of Ponoka, you can qualify for this program.
This incentive allows businesses to enjoy the following tax savings over three years:
- A 75 per cent reduction on the municipal portion of their property taxes in the first year;
- A 50 per cent reduction in the second year; and
- A 25 per cent reduction in the third year.
If the owner sells the property during the three-year incentive program, the property tax credits will stay with the property and transfer to the new owner.
To apply for the Commercial New Build Incentive, please fill in this application form and phone (403) 783-0127 or email RealLiving@ponoka.ca for assistance. Or click here to contact us.
For information on why Ponoka is a great place to do business, please view the Town of Ponoka's Retail Investment Opportunities.
Residential Incentive Programs
Did you know you can buy or build your dream home in Ponoka for much less than it costs in the city?
We are a scenic rural community where the cost of housing is much lower than the city and you can enjoy all the advantages of our relaxed, small-town lifestyle without the crowds.
We also have high-speed, fibre optic Internet, making it easy to work from home and telecommute anywhere!
Program Details
The Residential Incentives offer the following tax breaks and incentives to new and existing residents in Ponoka:
Residential New Build Incentive
Renewed until December 31, 2025
New and existing residents who build or buy a newly-built home not previously occupied in the Town of Ponoka can qualify for this program.
This incentive allows citizens to enjoy the following tax savings over three years:
- 75 per cent reduction on the municipal portion of your property taxes in the first year following the construction of a new home;
- 50 per cent reduction in Year 2; and
- 25 per cent reduction in Year 3.
That would add up to a total tax savings of more than $4,500 on a house with an assessed value of $380,000! (This example is based on 2022 property tax rates).
To qualify, applications must be received in the same year in which the development permit is issued.
Please note that applicants who build or buy a newly-built home in the Town of Ponoka and are moving to Ponoka from another community can also access the New Resident Incentive (please see below).
To apply for the Residential New Build Incentive, please fill in this application form and phone (403) 783-0127 or email RealLiving@ponoka.ca for assistance. Or click here to contact us.
New Resident Incentive
Renewed until December 31, 2025
New residents who buy and move into a resale or previously lived in home in the Town of Ponoka can receive a free one-year family recreation pass to the Ponoka Aquaplex and Ponoka Arena Complex.
The Ponoka Aquaplex features a 25-metre indoor swimming pool, wading pool, deep tank with a 10-foot corkscrew slide, hot tub and sauna.
The pass also includes free access to:
- Racquetball/squash courts;
- Public swimming and water fitness at the Ponoka Aquaplex;
- Drop-in programming (basketball, badminton, volleyball, etc); and
- Public skating/shinny hockey at the Ponoka Arena Complex.
To qualify, you must have moved to the Town of Ponoka from a different municipality. Applications must be submitted in the same year as the applicant’s possession date of their new property.
To apply for the New Resident Incentive, please fill in this application form and phone (403) 783-0127 or email RealLiving@ponoka.ca for assistance. Or click here to contact us.
Major Home Renovation Incentive Program
Renewed until December 31, 2025
Ponoka residents who complete major renovations on their home, which increase their property’s assessment value by at least 20 per cent (excluding land assessment value), can qualify for the following property tax breaks:
- 75 per cent reduction on the assessment increase in the municipal portion of their property taxes in Year 1;
- 50 per cent reduction on the increase in Year 2; and
- 25 per cent reduction on the increase in Year 3.
Examples of major renovations that may qualify for the program include:
- Finishing a basement;
- Building an attached or detached garage;
- Building an addition to increase square footage of a home;
- Major kitchen renovations or complete renovation of a main living area.
Applications must be received by December 31 of the same year in which the major home renovation work begins.
New residents who buy a ‘fixer-upper’ can also qualify for this incentive program. Realtors could use this program to promote the sale of ‘fixer-uppers.’
To apply for the Major Home Renovation Incentive, click here to fill out an application form. If you have any questions, please phone (403) 783-0127 or email RealLiving@ponoka.ca.
