Saskatchewan town offering money to build home there says program paying off [Video]

Moosomin, Sask. –

An official with a town in southeastern Saskatchewan says its plan to offer $30,000 cheques to anyone building homes in the community is paying off.

Moosomin, located about 230 kilometres east of Regina, announced the cash initiative in August to attract development to the community in desperate need of housing.

Casey McCormac, a town economic development officer, says the program has resulted in a flurry of construction, including two 12-unit apartment complexes and a six-unit building. Building permits have also been issued for two houses and a basement suite.

“I think it’s really cool,” McCormac said.

“It definitely shows that Moosomin was in need of this grant to help accelerate our housing needs, and it shows that people want to move to Moosomin and that there is a shortage of housing.”

Moosomin received $1 million from the federal government’s housing accelerator fund for its program. The town gives builders $30,000 for the first new unit plus $8,000 …