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By Justin Dionne

Ten CARES grants awarded throughout the region

Feb 19, 2019 | 4:05 PM

The province has announced ten grants for Peace Region communities under its Community and Regional Economic Support program (CARES).

The biggest grant is $282,000 for the MD of Greenview to help with its Tri-Municipal Industrial Partnership idea.

Energy Minister and MLA for Dunvegan-Central Peace-Notley Marg McCuaig-Boyd says a new industrial area south of the city for petrochemical production could mean some great things for our region.

“I see huge potential,” says McCuaig-Boyd. “I remember hearing the vision a few years ago of wanting to create something in the north like the Heartland near Edmonton. And why not? We’ve got the resources here, we have the technology, we have the people, and why not bring diversification to this area rather than ship out and bring it back?”

McCuaig-Boyd says the money will have a variety of uses including planning studies and indigenous consultations.

“It’s very gratifying to me because I know, being a rural person, how much that money means to these small towns for these projects. I was pretty excited today to bring this news to these towns. I’ve heard about some of the plans, so to be able to fund those means a lot.”

McCuaig-Boyd adds she would advocate for the CARES program in the future, as the grant money communities are receiving is important to supporting rural towns. She adds the province expects the funding to create a number of jobs.

Nine other places are receiving grants which include:

  • The Town of Peace River receiving $31,900 to develop strategies to grow and strengthen its local economy.
  • The M.D. of Spirit River receiving $25,000 to explore the development of a pulse processing facility in the Peace region.
  • Saddle Hills County is getting $25,000 to look at the feasibility of a nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing facility in the county.
  • The Town of Falher is receiving $25,000 to make a business case for an industrial hemp decortication facility in the region.
  • The Village of Nampa is receiving $10,000 to create a plan for building local development.
  • The Village of Berwyn will be getting $10,000 to identify opportunities for repurposing the Berwyn Autumn Lodge.
  • Northern Sunrise County will get $10,000 for a project that aims to identify potential retail, light commercial and hospitality opportunities.
  • The Town of Sexsmith receiving $9,500 to create a blueprint for supporting the town’s growth and sustainability.
  • The Village of Rycroft will receive $8,000 to prepare an economic development strategy that identifies opportunities for business attraction.

Altogether, the Peace Region has seen over $436,000 in funding through the fall 2018 CARES intake.

by Justin Dionne