By Patrick Burles/ Lethbridge News Now

Province contributes to design plans for Exhibition Park

Nov 23, 2017 | 1:30 PM

The Lethbridge and District Exhibition has received more support for detailed design plans for a new Trade and Convention Centre.

The provincial government is contributing $1.1-million under the Community and Regional Economic Support (CARES) program. That’s in addition to the $1.1-million committed by Exhibition Park themselves and the City of Lethbridge.

The Exhibition received the largest share of the $4.2-million that was announced Thursday morning, Nov. 23, in Calgary, which is being spread among 50 initiatives throughout Alberta.

Funding under the CARES program is aimed at improving economic development through business expansion and retention programs, investment attraction and marketing, strategic planning and capacity building workshops, training and coaching programs.

Thursday’s announcement was the second round of funding under the program, with the first group including 61 projects that shared $5-million.

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While speaking to Lethbridge News Now in March – prior to the City contributing to the detailed design work – Exhibition Park General Manager, Rudy Friesen, explained that a new facility is badly needed. He stated that while the main Pavilion is newer, the other facilities have an average age of over 50 years, with some being well over 80 years old.

Friesen stated that Ag Expo alone had to turn away 47 businesses in March – which meant approximately $368,000 in lost revenue for the community – due to a lack of space for vendors.

To this point, there’s no word on what will happen after the design plans are completed, and when actual construction will begin.