LAC LA BICHE – Lac La Biche County is putting million on the table in an effort to get as many as 175 new homes and rental units built over the next two years.

Council approved the Lac La Biche County Advantage Housing Development Incentive Program on Aug. 18, creating two streams of direct grants for new residential construction.

Builders of eligible new homes can receive $20,000 per dwelling, while developers of multi-unit rental projects can receive $10,000 for each eligible new rental unit.

Mayor Paul Reutov said the County wants the incentive to translate directly into construction.

“We want to see more homes, more rental units and more investment happening in Lac La Biche County,” said Reutov. “This program puts real dollars behind that goal. If someone is ready to build, we want Lac La Biche County to be at the top of their list.”

$500,000 for new homes, $1.5 million for rentals

The $2-million program is divided into two streams.

Up to $500,000 is available for new home construction, with development-ready residential lots identified as a priority. Eligible new dwellings elsewhere in Lac La Biche County can also qualify.

The remaining $1.5 million is earmarked for multi-unit housing developments containing four or more rental units.

Rental units receiving the incentive must remain long-term rental housing for at least five years under a Housing Incentive Agreement. If that commitment isn’t maintained, the grant must be repaid.

Applications will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis, subject to eligibility and available funding.

The incentives won’t be paid upfront. Grants will be issued once the eligible housing is completed and approved for occupancy.

County looking to close housing gaps

The program follows Lac La Biche County’s 2025 Housing Needs Assessment, which identified gaps in both housing choice and rental availability.

The County says increasing the housing supply is also important to attracting and retaining workers, supporting families and accommodating future growth.

“More housing means more choice for our residents, more opportunities for families and workers to make Lac La Biche County home, and a stronger foundation for future growth,” Reutov said.

The incentive has been in development for several months. In July, Council initially allocated up to $1.5 million from reserves toward an Affordable Housing Incentive Program, with an early planning target of approximately 150 units.

The program approved Aug. 18 increases that potential investment to $2 million and raises the number of homes and rental units it could support to as many as 175.

Lac La Biche isn’t alone in trying to use municipal incentives to encourage residential construction. Nearby Bonnyville and Cold Lake have also introduced housing incentives as municipalities compete to attract new development.

The Lac La Biche County program will operate for two years or until all available funding has been committed. Any extension or additional funding would have to return to Council for approval.

Program guidelines and application materials will be available through Lac La Biche County.