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Multiple communities around Drayton Valley receive provincial grant to assist with coal transition

Mar 15, 2018 | 3:59 PM

Coal communities around Drayton Valley are receiving provincial funding as they continue their transition away from coal.

Economic Development Minister Deron Bilous was in Wabamun today where he announced nearly $5 million worth of grants to 12 communities across the province including three surrounding Drayton Valley.

The village of Warburg will receive $375,000, the town of Thorsby $245,000 and the village of Wabamun is in line to receive $347,000.

Minister Bilous says Warburg is focused on an industrial infrastructure plan for an over 100 acre parcel of land that they want to turn into an mixed use industrial park while Thorsby is wanting to encourage the revitalization of their community so they have identified objectives to develop or rehabilitate services within their community. 

The village of Wabamun has a three pronged approach, want to promote some transitional strategic development plans, look at improving local business retention, promote investment attraction through a marketing strategy and are doing a number of feasibility studies.

Minister Bilous says the response to the initative has been pretty positive, however he was reluctant to say that the uncertainty within communities moving away from coal has subsided.

“I wouldn’t say uncertainty has been removed, what we are trying to do is provide some support to the communities to be able to look at opportunities to promote economic growth and diversification.” said Bilous. “I appreciate that there is still uncertainty for workers as far as when the coal fired plants will be converting to natural gas, becuase that will have an impact on their labor numbers and the mines.” 

He added that the Coal Workforce Transition Program established last fall is a $40-million fund that provides  income support to workers transitioning to new jobs or retiring. 

The federal government announced its plan to phase out coal in Canada by the end of 2029.