Investment in the Designated Industrial Zone is being boosted thanks to more than $50 million dollars in funding from Alberta’s government.
According to a press release, the Designated Industrial Zone in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland was launched in 2022 in an effort to streamline regulatory approvals and support infrastructure development while maintaining world-class environmental standards.
Rebecca Schulz, Alberta’s Minister of Environment and Protected Areas, and other dignitaries were on hand for the funding announcement in Sturgeon County, near Fort Saskatchewan. Over five years the money will help create three new water intake facilities in the Designated Industrial Zone.
The outdoor press conference was held during Thursday morning’s rainfall and Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk, the MLA for Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville, stated without proper water access industry can’t grow and Alberta’s Industrial Heartland has been operating with the same supply of water for more than a decade. She says “This is why I have been passionately advocating for this project since my election. The construction of three new water intake facilities – or as I like to call them straws in the river – will allow industry here to continue to grown for many years to come. This means the area will become even more attractive for investment. This means even more jobs in my constituency and opportunities for those moving here. This means even more of a cutting edge innovation which is making Alberta a trail blazer in responsible industrial development. To put it simply, as the Heartland grows, Fort Saskatchewan grows and Alberta prospers.”
Lamont County Reeve David Diduck is Chair of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association. He notes these new intakes will improve the business case for companies choosing to locate in the Heartland. Diduck thanked Schultz and the hard working staff at the Ministry of Environment and Protected Areas to their continued commitment to this partnership and advancing the dual benefits of environmental stewardship and economic prosperity in our communities. He says “AIH has over $45 billion in existing capital infrastructure and with Dow’s recent final investment decision, we’ll soon be home to the world’s first net-zero ethylene cracker and derivative facility (Path2Zero facility). Our region is solidifying our position as a world class destination for industrial development. Our strong partnership with the government of Alberta has helped foster this growth.”
The three new water intakes will be located in Lamont County, Strathcona County, and Sturgeon County. Alberta’s government will be covering up to 30 per cent of the construction and associated infrastructure costs for the new facilities.