Backgrounder: Minister Vandal launches PrairiesCan service location in Grande Prairie and highlights federal investments across northwest Alberta

The Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, officially unveiled the new PrairiesCan service location in Grande Prairie to help capitalize on economic opportunities across northwest Alberta. As part of the launch, Minister Vandal also announced more than $9.4 million in recent PrairiesCan funding for 23 projects to support tourism, community economic development, innovation, and economic growth across northwest Alberta.

The $9,409,410 in federal funding announced today provides more opportunities for growth and economic prosperity across northwest Alberta. This investment is expected to support more than 160 jobs.

The federal investment is allocated through several PrairiesCan programs, including the Business Scale-up and Productivity program, the Canada Community Revitalization Fund, the Jobs and Growth Fund and the Tourism Relief Fund.

Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP) - $667,507

The BSP program supports high-growth businesses that are seeking to improve productivity, scale-up and commercialize technology. It offers interest-free, repayable funding to incorporated businesses that have been in operation for a minimum of two years. Today, PrairiesCan support for one BSP project was announced:

• Wolfe Honey Company Inc. ($667,507)
  Renovate existing facilities in the Hamlet of Guy to increase capacity to produce organic honey as well as launch and market a new hot honey product.

Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF) - $2,580,023

As part of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the CCRF helps communities across Canada build and improve community infrastructure projects so they can continue to rebound from the pandemic. With a national investment of $500 million over two years, the CCRF is helping not-for-profit organizations, municipalities, community groups, and Indigenous communities build accessible community infrastructure and revitalize existing assets, bring people to public spaces, create jobs, and stimulate local economies. Today, PrairiesCan announced support for 10 CCRF projects:

• Cherry Canyon Agricultural Society ($30,060)
  Upgrade the outdoor community park in Bear Canyon with new playground and fitness equipment, bleachers, landscaping, and benches.
• County of Grande Prairie No. 1 ($750,000)
  Improve access to recreational trail infrastructure by constructing a new 1.6 km multi-use trail that connects existing City of Grande Prairie trails with the County of Grande Prairie trail network.
• Fourth Creek Community Association ($23,000)
  Enhance an established community recreation area by building a new public playground near the Fourth Creek Hall, ball diamond and campground.
• Hythe and District Agricultural Society ($192,327)
  Build the Mustang Spray Park, an accessible and family friendly outdoor spray park in Hythe.
• La Crete Agricultural Society ($39,090)
  Establish a 7.5 acre community orchard at the La Crete Mennonite Heritage Village.
• Loon River First Nation ($20,000)
  Develop a new community garden in the Loon River First Nation to provide residents a place to gather and grow their own food.
• Marigold Enterprises Rehabilitation Services Society ($38,531)
  Repurpose a vacant space into a community gathering space and mini-golf course in downtown High Prairie.
• Sagitawa Friendship Society ($500,651)
  Renovate the Al-Adair Recreation Centre to create a community centre and Indigenous Cultural Hub in downtown Peace River.
• Town of High Level ($750,000)
  Enhance High Level Community Park with new baseball diamonds, soccer fields, pathways, washroom facilities and infrastructure to better support year-round recreation activities.
• Town of Swan Hills ($236,364)
  Enhance downtown Swan Hills by expanding greenspace and adding accessible walkways, benches, and outdoor museum displays that attract residents and support community gatherings.

Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF) - $4,480,500

The JGF is a $700-million federal program to support regional job creation and position local economies for long-term growth. The Fund provides businesses and organizations with either interest-free loans or non-repayable funding to help job creators and the organizations that support them to prepare for growth, build resiliency, enhance competitiveness and create jobs. Today, PrairiesCan support for one JGF project was announced:

• Little Red River Group of Companies (Operating as Caribou Mountain Homes) ($4,480,500)
  Enable Caribou Mountain Homes to acquire equipment, supplies, and labour they need to increase the production of ready to move homes that can be delivered to markets throughout northern Canada.

Tourism Relief Fund (TRF) - $1,681,380

As part of Canada’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, the TRF supports tourism businesses and organizations to adapt their operations to meet public health requirements while investing in products and services to facilitate their future growth. With a federal investment of $500 million over two years, this fund is positioning Canada as a destination of choice as domestic and international travel rebounds. Financial support is a mix of interest free-loans and non-repayable contributions depending on project activities. Today, support for 11 TRF funded projects was announced:  

• Canadian Motorcycle Tourism Association ($72,222)
  Add equipment that extends the operating season of outdoor event spaces at the Veterans Memorial Gardens & Interpretive Centre in Grande Prairie and launch new marketing initiatives to attract visitors to northern Alberta.
• High Level Native Friendship Centre Society ($500,000)
  Establish an Indigenous cultural park with a historic walkway that shares Indigenous knowledge and outdoor gathering spaces designed to host authentic Indigenous experiences.
• La Crete Polar Cats Snowmobile Club ($87,838)
  Create new trails, install signage and accessible washroom facilities, and launch digital trail maps to enhance the snowmobile trail network in the La Crete area.
• Mackenzie Ski Hill Society (operating as Blue Ridge Mountain Resort) ($225,908)
  Enhance Blue Ridge Mountain Ski Resort with new ski runs, a terrain park, website updates, chalet expansion, and enhanced staff training to provide quality experiences that attract new guests.
• The Mighty Peace Tourist Association ($140,000)
  Gather detailed information on trails in Peace River Country and the Municipal District of Smoky River to guide future trail development and tourism planning.
• Monkman Ventures Ltd. (operating as Broken Tine Orchard) ($57,540)
  Enhance Broken Tine Orchard facilities to increase production capacity, support the launch of new products and enable the orchard to better attract and welcome visitors.
• Municipal District of Greenview No. 16 ($55,861)
  Create a destination development strategy and launch a virtual reality experience to increase awareness of and visitation to attractions and experiences in the Grande Cache area.
• Prairie Gallery Society (operating as the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie) ($26,385)
  Acquire assets that enable the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie to display captivating multimedia exhibitions and create an immersive digital collection that can be viewed online.
• River of Death and Discovery Dinosaur Museum Society (operating as Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum) ($315,628)
  Launch interactive tourism experiences - including guided river rafting tours, an escape room, digital fossil discovery experiences, and new museum exhibits - to increase awareness of and visitation to northwest Alberta and the Philip J. Currie Museum.
• Town of Fairview ($99,999)
  Acquire equipment and create a destination development plan to support the delivery of quality community events that attract visitors to Fairview.
• Zama Recreation Society ($99,999)
  Build two full service cabins in the community campground and upgrade the Zama Community Hall with a new kitchen to attract visitors and provide amenities that better support community events.

Related products

• News Release: Minister Vandal launches PrairiesCan service location in Grande Prairie and highlights federal investments across northwest Alberta

Associated links

• Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
• Business Scale-up and Productivity (BSP)
• Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF)
• Jobs and Growth Fund (JGF)
• Tourism Relief Fund (TRF)