The City of Steinbach issued $5.7 million worth of building permits in December. The biggest permit was for $4.1 million for the new heating, ventilation and air conditioning project at the Bethesda Regional Health Centre. There were ten housing starts last month.

Deputy Mayor Michael Zwaagstra says it was a good month that capped off a good year for new construction in the city.

"2018 was just under $57 million in total building permits which is very much on par with where it was the year before. And, the last two years are two of the best years in the last number of years on record. We're pleased to see there continues to be a lot of construction within the city, there continues to be positive growth and we're looking forward to 2019 also being a good year in regards to our building permits."

Mayor Earl Funk says he is pleased to see Steinbach continuing to grow in popularity as a place to live and do business.

"We have a great community to live in. It's a big city and yet it has a very small town feel and I think that is very attractive. It's a great place to raise a family, a great place to work and a great place to do business and that is coming through in our building permits."

Zwaagstra says it was nice to see development spread out over all parts of the city last year including new homes, new commercial development as well as institutional development.

Housing starts in Steinbach last year totalled 158, down from 233 a year earlier.