The Tri-Municipal Industrial Partnership has gotten $210,000 in funding from the provincial government. Economic Development and Trade Minister Deron Bilous announced the second round of the Community and Regional Economic Support program Thursday, which includes the partnership between the MD of Greenview and the City and County of Grande Prairie.
“The tri-municipal partnership is intended to increase economic diversity by providing a stable, predictable environment for international investment in the liquids-rich Montney formation in our region of the province,” City of Grande Prairie Mayor Bill Given told the AUMA annual convention where the funding was announced, alongside MD Reeve Dale Gervais and County Deputy Reeve Bob Marshall.
The matching funds will go towards the development of a large-scale industrial park 40 kilometres south of Grande Prairie. The MD says they will be used to finish an area structure plan, market analysis, and environmental review for the Gold Creek Industrial Area.
“The purpose of this partnership is to develop a world class industrial area with the lofty goal of attracting international investors to locate in our area with a focus on value-added component to our natural resources,” adds Gervais. “This initiative will be a benefit to the whole region and all of Alberta.”
The partnership was first announced at the end of 2016, with the goal of showcasing the region’s “untapped potential” and attracting industry interest. All three municipalities would share property tax revenue from any development.
The MD received $46,000 in the first round of CARES funding to look into the possibility of a petrochemical plant in partnership with Devco Development that could be pilot project for the tri-municipal partnership.
Other initiatives included in Thursday’s announcement are the MD of Spirit River’s Canola Crush and Refining Facility Business Case, which received $25,000, and the County of Northern Lights, which will use $11,350 to do a retail and small industrial gap analysis.