A new tax incentive program is now available in the Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton. Reeve Harold Foster says they put this in place because they have a number of empty lots along the lake and in the village of Riverton, noting they believe it's to their advantage and the advantage of their residents that they have buildings start going up on those lots. Foster says with housing being a bit slow at the moment, council decided to approve the tax incentive to perhaps speed up the process. He notes anyone who puts up a commercial business can have a hundred percent of the municipal portion of taxes forgiveable in the first year, adding it's a five year program which goes from one hundred to eighty percent and then to sixty, forty, and twenty before the property becomes subject to full taxation at the end of the fifth year.

Foster says there are also some incentives in this program for multiple housing units and for single family residences. He notes once a developer or homeowner puts up their building, they can come to the municipal office and ask for an application form. Foster adds folks do have to apply, because the municipality doesn't automatically give them this incentive.