The RPGA Planning District is reporting a solid second-quarter for 2021.

In the Town of Altona, 31 building permits were issued in the second quarter - 29 housing and 2 commercial permits for a total of $5.3 million. This is up from 23 building permits and 0 commercial, for a total value of $1.4 million during the same period in 2020.

Meantime, in the Municipality of Rhineland, the total number of permits issued during the second quarter remains status-quo. Their value, however, grew by nearly $2 million.

In total, 30 permits were approved during that period - 26 housing permits, 1 commercial, 3 other permits worth a total of $5 million. During the same period in 2020, 30 permits were issued as well, but the total value rang in at $3.2 million.

Susan Stein, General Manager for the RPGA Planning District, offered her predictions for the rest of the year.

"For Rhineland, I think we'll be hitting our target because we're at about ninety two per cent," she said. "And it has slowed down slightly, but we usually see another surge in September/October, just before the frost hits."

Stein expects the same late-season boost for Altona.

"We still have quite a few projects that people have come in and asked about, but just haven't quite started yet."