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By Curtis Galbraith

Province says diversification programs are already paying dividends in the Peace

Mar 16, 2018 | 3:01 PM

The provincial government says a pending new deal for a local business is proof its programs to boost the energy business are working.

Tradesmen Enterprises, based in the County of Grande Prairie, is in the final stages of completing a deal to supply components for a petrochemical facility to be built near Edmonton.

The province said last week it was giving out funding for a second round of its Petrochemical Diversification program last week.

“There is no better example of what value-added jobs do for communities than right here at Tradesmen. As our economy gets stronger, it’s time to talk about how we secure this recovery for working people and make sure it is built to last,” Premier Rachel Notley told the crowd that gathered at the Tradesmen Enterprises shop for the announcement Friday afternoon.

She thinks this area has many advantages when it comes to the energy business.

“Grande Prairie has a very young and educated workforce. We know that the oil and gas reserves in and around this area are very rich and we know that it’s well-positioned to ship westward.”

Trademen’s Vice President of Business Development Greg Mould says this could be one of the biggest contracts in the company’s history.

“I can’t give much detail regarding it because the contract hasn’t been finalized as of yet. We’re in final stages, so we expect everything to, hopefully, close within the next month.”

Mould says this should mean some trickle-down business for other operations.

“We don’t do it all. We have to subcontract different electrical instrumentation, crane work, and also we have people in the field, so not only do we have this facility in Grande Prairie, but we also are working at CRNL at Kirby, working for other projects right across the Province of Alberta and into northeast B.C.”

He adds there are many other opportunities for his company.

“Especially in the Pipestone area, which is a half-hour away from here. Lots of activity, lots of work taking place. We’re currently working for another one of our key clients in that area,” he said. “so yeah, that area of Wapiti, Simonette, and Pipestone, lots of growth opportunity for sure.”

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by Curtis Galbraith