Lacombe County approved an incentive program for those thinking about opening or expanding an industrial or commercial business in Mirror.

Council agreed on a three-year pilot project that would offer businesses a grant to offset municipal property taxes over 10 years.

During the first year in which the business is open, the grant would cover 100 per cent of municipal property taxes and would go down by 10 per cent each year until full taxation was reached.

Planner/Development Officer with the County Jesse McPhail said although it’s approved, it may still take a while to get rolling.

“We’re looking to implement this in 2018. There’s still quite a few details that we still need to iron prior to rolling the program out so we just want to make sure all of our ducks are in a row before we open it up.”  

“Staff is going to sit down with the different departments and just make sure everyone is on the same page with everything and we have a nice, sound program in place.”

For owners who are only looking to expand their current business, a grant will also be offered to cover the increase in property taxes due to expansion, for one year.

A $5,000 budget for the first year of the program was approved by council, but if the program is successful more money could become available.