Grande Prairie continues to attract people looking to build careers, raise families, and create opportunity. That growth is driving demand for new housing, creating opportunities for local businesses willing to invest in the community's future.
For APG Property Group, that investment is personal.
"Grande Prairie has been home pretty much my whole life," said Greg Podolski, Director of APG Property Group. "Our family has deep roots here, so I've had the chance to grow up with the city and watch it become what it is today."
APG Property Group has been part of the Grande Prairie community for nearly 40 years, growing alongside the city and investing in its future.
"Grande Prairie has always been a place where hard work and taking smart risks can still create opportunity," said Podolski. "If you treat people right and stay consistent, there's room to build something here."
That belief continues to guide the company's latest project, Westpointe Apartments, a large-scale multi-family development that will add new rental housing to a market where demand continues to outpace supply.
The project reflects a broader moment of momentum in the community. With the City’s vacancy rate hovering around one per cent, City-introduced programs such as the Municipal Fee Rebate Program and the Multi-Family Development Grant, helped reduce barriers, improved project viability, and encouraged new housing supply where it is needed most.
“Building an apartment project had been on our radar for years, but for a long time new construction just wasn’t viable,” Podolski said. “Costs were too high, financing was tough, and the numbers didn’t make sense. You can want to build something, but it still has to pencil out.”
In a competitive investment environment, that matters. Grande Prairie is not only competing locally for development. It is competing with larger urban centres like Edmonton and Calgary for private capital, trades, materials, and investor confidence.
“Developers count the cost and invest where it makes the most sense,” Podolski said. “Capital can go elsewhere, and there’s only so much of it.”
Initiatives like the Municipal Fee Rebate Program and Multi-Family Development Grant helped create the conditions for private-sector investment while supporting one of the community's most pressing needs.
“The Municipal Fee Rebate Program was a major factor,” Podolski said. “It wasn’t just free money; it was one of the things that helped make the project workable.”
The City's housing incentive programs have already helped support hundreds of new housing units across Grande Prairie, creating the conditions for private-sector investment while helping address one of the community's most pressing needs.
"The City's willingness to back development in a practical way made a difference, and we're thankful for that," said Podolski. "It helped us keep our investment in Grande Prairie instead of placing those dollars somewhere else."
For Podolski, Grande Prairie's appeal extends well beyond the business case.
"I think a lot of people underestimate Grande Prairie or don't really know what it's like here," he said. "Some still think of it as just oil and gas, but it's much more than that. We have a strong business community, lots of opportunity, and people here know how to work hard and get things done."
"Honestly, Grande Prairie has some of the hardest working people in Canada. It's a city full of practical, resourceful people who aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves. It's also a great place to raise a family and build a life."
That combination of opportunity and community is what continues to attract investment from businesses like APG. It is a place with the economic strength of a larger centre, but the relationships, pace, and practicality of a community where people still know how to work directly with one another.
"Grande Prairie has a mix that can be hard to find," said Podolski. "There is real opportunity here, but it still feels personal. You can still build relationships, get things done, and deal with people directly."
For APG Property Group, the decision to continue investing in Grande Prairie comes down to confidence in the community's future.
“Grande Prairie keeps attracting good people, it keeps growing, and there is still opportunity for people willing to invest back into the community,” Podolski said. “If you’re willing to work and think long term, it’s a great place to build something meaningful.”