2021’s construction season seems to be off to a strong start based on the number of permits already filed with the City of Thompson.

The city says that as of the end of March, 33 construction permits have been submitted to its Inspections department, with a total value of roughly 3.6 million dollars.

That’s three times the permits filed around the same time last year, with eleven permits filed valued at 1.8 million, most of which were submitted before Manitoba called a state of emergency to combat the spread of COVID-19.

The construction is entirely made up of investment from the local private sector, including one new business, and the city predicts more commercial permits will be filed later this year based on existing projects in the community.

Mayor Colleen Smook said while last year was challenging for local businesses, construction in the city continues to hold strong as residents and entrepreneurs continue to find new opportunities in Thompson.