Construction activity in the RPGA Planning District is humming despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The total number of building permits in Rhineland Municipality through the first six months of this year is at
$4.7 million. The municipality has recorded 14 new housing starts compared to last year's grand total of 15, and about $2 million worth of commercial permits have been issued so far.

"In Rhineland, we're seeing a slowdown slightly in the commercial sector compared to 2019," said Susan Stein, general manager for the RPGA. "We started Rhineland West Ag Park approximately two to three years ago, but the construction really got started in 2018 and into 2019, so we saw quite a big increase due to that. That has slowed down slightly in 2020."

In Altona, a total of 23 permits valued at $8.6-million have been issued so far this year with 23 new housing starts to the end of June compared to 14 housing starts for all of last year.

"For Altona, we're seeing a lot of residential including single-family, condominiums, duplexes, all types of family housing. On the commercial side the town has had some big permits including the Sun Valley Co-op expansion and the Friesens expansion," said Stein.