Backgrounder: Minister Vandal announces investments to support infrastructure and economic development projects across Alberta

PrairiesCan is investing $39,432,507 for 10 Alberta projects to support skill development, infrastructure investment and economic diversification in impacted communities transitioning from coal-fired electricity generation. Projects receiving funding will have significant environmental and economic benefits, including supporting more than 680 jobs while enabling coal-affected communities to create new sources of economic growth.

PrairiesCan funding for these 10 projects is through the Canada Coal Transition Initiative (CCTI) and Canada Coal Transition Initiative – Infrastructure Fund (CCTI-IF).

Canada Coal Transition Initiative (CCTI) - $1,382,507

CCTI is an investment of $35 million over five years. It supports skills development and helps communities adapt to a low-carbon economy. The fund was launched on April 1, 2018, and ended March 31, 2023. Investments under CCTI have supported a total of 15 projects in Alberta.

Projects announced today as receiving support through the CCTI include:

• Paul First Nation is receiving $850,000 to develop a transition, training, and employment centre for entrepreneurship training and business support.
• Paul First Nation is receiving $532,507 to conduct a feasibility and technical study for the requirements of a solar park development.

Canada Coal Transition Initiative-Infrastructure Fund (CCTI-IF) - $38,050,000

The CCTI-IF was launched on August 20, 2020. This $150 million fund aims to help communities move away from coal by investing in infrastructure. The initiative is set to end on March 31, 2025. To date, investments under CCTI-IF have supported a total of 14 projects in Alberta.

Projects announced today as receiving support through the CCTI-IF include:

• County of Paintearth is receiving $2,300,000 to upgrade and develop wastewater and stormwater easement infrastructure for a mixed-use industrial park.
• Parkland County is receiving $17,500,000 to upgrade the Wabamun wastewater facility, develop a water feature and redevelop the existing public waterfront park in the Hamlet of Wabamun.
• Parkland County is receiving $12,400,000 to upgrade Spruce Valley and Pinchbeck-Bevington Road intersections on Highway 16A to increase access to Acheson Industrial Area.
• The Town of Castor is receiving $891,000 to reconstruct and convert a campground area into a year-round multipurpose venue.
• The Town of Coronation is receiving $891,000 to renovate and retrofit two buildings into business incubator and accelerator centres to offer business supports and programming to foster commercial growth.
• The Village of Forestburg is receiving $313,000 to develop land and underground utilities for the proposed Jeanne Lougheed Historic Park and to the Flagstaff County border to support a proposed joint industrial park.
• The Village of Forestburg is receiving $250,000 to develop the planning and design of the Forestburg South Industrial Subdivision.
• The Village of Forestburg is receiving $3,505,000 for design and construction of roadway and utility extensions in the industrial park in the Village of Forestburg.

Related products

• News Release: Minister Vandal announces investments to support infrastructure and economic development projects across Alberta

Associated links

• Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan)
• Green Prairie Economy
• Powering Past Coal Alliance: phasing out coal
• Task Force: Just Transition for Canadian Coal Power Workers and Communities