Economic Profile
Leader, with a population of 863, is the center of a retail trading area which includes three rural municipalities. Leader is one of the sunniest places in North America with 2350 hours of sunshine and an average precipitation of 31 inches (79 cm) snow and 10 inches (25.5 cm) rain per year. Mean temperatures range from a January low of -19°C to a summer high in July of +26°C.
Leader is a community of contrasts. The prairie landscape is broken by rolling hills to the south, and by the South Saskatchewan River valley to the north. The dry desert of the Great Sandhills lies to the east, but a few miles north is the fertile plain near the river. Here is some of the best farmland in the country, and the wide open ranch lands provide grazing for cattle herds. In the center of it all, at the junction of Highway 32 and Highway 21, is Leader.
Incorporated as a town in 1917, Leader is the agricultural service center for the district. The grain and cattle industries provide long-term stability and form the base of the community. Commercial taxes have been lowered as an incentive to increase economic activity.
Tourism is becoming a growth industry in Leader. The community lies directly in the migratory bird flyways and attracts visitors from across North America. Along the Leader Birding Trail, naturalists will find over 200 different species. These include Canada Goose, Sharp-Tailed Grouse and Ring Necked Pheasant. White-tail deer, antelope and moose can be seen in the area, and at the South Saskatchewan River, you’ll find pickerel, northern pike and sturgeon.
With its sandbars and sandhills, Leader is a truly unique part of the prairies. A great place to visit, a great place to work, a great place to live.
Housing Incentives
In an attempt to address housing and rental housing needs within the Town of Leader, Council has created a Housing Incentive Policy. This policy offers incentives to anyone building single residential housing or multi-unit housing. Below is a summary of the policy and the incentives offered. Single Residential Housing Incentive: Eligible projects under this intake stream are new builds, ready-to-move homes, secondary suites (modified incentive package) and relocated used homes (subject to Council approval). Housing renovations/additions, garages, decks and other improvements are all ineligible projects. Multi-Unit Housing Incentive: Eligible projects under this intake stream are duplexes, four plexes, five plexes, other new multi-housing units (subject to Council approval) and single residential housing converted to duplex (modified incentive package). Renovations/additions to existing multi-unit housing and the addition of rooms to an existing residential dwelling are all ineligible projects. Incentive Package: The following incentive package is for both Single and Multi-unit projects: · New water and sewer service lines from the mains to the property line; · New asphalt paving within one year of a new utility service line is installed; · New sidewalk along the front of the property, if current sidewalk is below fair condition or has been removed during construction and line installation; · A capital grant · A property tax abatement Capital Grant: The capital grant is a lump sum payment provided to the property owner upon substantial completion of the approved project. Eligible projects shall receive a grant of 1% of the Assessed Value of the property as determined by SAMA once they have completed their assessment after substantial completion. The modified capital grant will be 1% on 50% of the new Assessed Value of the property as determined by SAMA’s assessment after substantial completion. Property Tax Abatement: A property tax abatement is to be applied as of January 1st of the year immediately following substantial completion and only applies to the municipal portion of property taxes. The tiered abatement is as follows: · Year 1: 100% Modified Tax Abatement: Year 1: 75% · Year 2: 80% Year 2: 50% · Year 3: 60% Year 3: 25% · Year 4: 50% · Year 5: 50%
Utilities
Leader prides itself on supplying good quality drinking water. It is their policy that the drinking water they provide will be produced in accordance with and meet or exceed the quality standards required by the Water and Sewage Works
INFRASTRUCTURE FEE
$10.00 per month
BULK WATER – TREATED
Based on volume dispensed $23.00 /1,000 gallons
Utilities Continued..
Sask Power: supplies electricity Phone 1-888-757-6937
Sask Energy: supplies natural gas Phone 1-800-667-3075
Sasktel: Supplies phone, Internet and TV Phone 1-800-303-9779
Access Communications: TV and Internet
Transfer Station &
Waste Collection
The transfer station is located approximately 2km north of town along Range Road 3264. There are two large bins on site to collect residential waste, an oil collection facility, scrap metal collection, shingle drop off and burn area for clean wood and yard waste.
Triways Disposal Services conduct curb-side cart collection of solid waste and recyclable materials every second week.
Tax Incentives for New Businesses
Any new building valued $250,000 or greater on Commercial/Industrial Property operating a business can receive the following municipal property tax concessions:
Year 1- 100% of municipal property tax (year business opened)
Year 2- 75% of municipal property tax
Year 3- 50% of municipal property tax
Year 4- 25% of municipal property tax
Any new building valued between $100,000 - $249,999 on Commercial/Industrial Property operating can receive the following municipal property tax concessions:
Year 1- 100% of municipal property tax
Year 2- 50% of municipal property tax
Year 3- 25% of municipal property tax
Tax Incentives Continued...
Any renovation, the addition of square footage (minimum square footage sale be 500 square feet), on existing building, can receive the following municipal property tax concession
Values between $25,000 to $99,999
Year 1- 25% of municipal property tax
Year 2- 20% of municipal property tax
Values between $100,000- 249,999
Year 1 - 100% of municipal property tax
Year 2 - 50% municipal property tax
Year 3 - 25% of municipal property
Values in excess of $250,000
Year 1 - 100% municipal property tax
Year 2 - 75% of municipal property tax
Year 3 - 50% of municipal property tax
Year 4 - 25% of municipal property tax
Year 5 - 25 % of municipal property tax
Tax Incentives for Improving Store Fronts
This incentive is to promote economic development by facilitating physical upgrades to the exterior of privately owned commercial/industrial properties within the Town of Leader.
Approved applicants who undertake at least $500 in property improvements are eligible for tax relief of up to 50% of the eligible expenditures of the project, less applicable taxes, up to the value of the current years tax levy, capped at $7,500 in tax relief pre property.
Home Business
Home Based Businesses only require a business license with the town. The fee is $50 a year which you can obtain from the Town of Leader.
For more information on any of these incentives call:
Leader Town Office: 1-306-628-3868
Tax Incentives: If payments are received prior to August 1st you will receive a discount of 3% on municipal portion of the payment.
Starting Fresh
Looking at starting a business in Leader. Here is some data to help you start your adventure.