Economic development groups getting more provincial cash

By COLLIN GALLANT on March 23, 2023.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Regional economic development agencies will see provincial operation support grants doubled in 2023, following an interim one-time boost in grant funding last fall, according to a government release on Wednesday.

Combined, the outlay will be about $250,000 to each of nine Rural Economic Development Agencies.

How the additional funds might be employed in southeast Alberta however, could be debated this month when municipal officials in the Palliser Economic Partnership, including Medicine Hat, Cypress County, Redcliff and Bow Island, among others gather for executive meetings.

The long-serving agency, which is funded mostly by members, has been without a permanent executive director since mid-2021, with sources telling the News that staffing the position is a high priority item for the board.

Along with local municipalities, PEP serves and promotes investment in a wide swath of the region, including the County of Forty Mile, Hanna, Oyen, towns in the Special Areas and Newell County, but not Brooks.

On Wednesday, a release from Agriculture Minister Nate Horner and Jobs Minister Brian Jean relayed the changes that appear in the recently presented Alberta budget, which increases support for each of nine rural agencies from the province to $125,000.

“Providing rural communities with the support they need to overcome economic barriers and reach their full potential is a priority for Alberta’s government,” said Horner in a statement released during the annual conference of Rural Municipalities of Alberta in Edmonton.

“Increasing funding for REDAs means municipal leaders and local businesses will have a greater capacity to attract investment, grow our rural economy and solve local challenges.”

Late last year, the province announced an immediate grant of $1 million to eight regional partnerships, or about $125,000 each.

Similar grants are available to nine other regional partnerships, including SouthGrow (involving Lethbridge County and Taber), the Alberta Southwest Alliance (Fort Macleod area and Cardston), and a group concerned with the Battle River region.

12
-11