News

Keep up to date with the latest news and notifications that concern economic & business development in Spruce Grove & Region.

Wednesday, May 22, 2019

TECH WEST CANADA provides practical support to Western Canadian technology companies looking to grow their business by participating in international events. Learn more and register for these events at Techwestcanada.ca. To ensure you don't miss out on future opportunities sign up for the Tech West newsletter.

Edmonton's Push to Become a 'Health City'

Monday, May 13, 2019

ALBERTA VENTURE From winning prestigious mentorship programs to working with city-run synergy efforts, Edmonton healthcare businesses are making strides, but more work needs to be done in terms of growing IP at home and engaging Alberta's notoriously risk-averse investors. Edmonton was perhaps over-represented in this year's Canada Chicago Mentorship Program (C2MP), a prestigious piece of teamwork between the country and its neighbour to the south. Last February, 20 Canadian med-tech businesses applied for the program's five spots. Read full story.

City Centre ARP Bylaw - 2nd Reading

Friday, May 10, 2019

As part of City Centre revitalization in Spruce Grove, a City Centre Area Redevelopment Plan bylaw was developed and will go in front of Council on Monday, May 27th.

Spruce Grove, Parkland County reach annexation agreement

Monday, April 29, 2019

SPRUCE GROVE EXAMINER Spruce Grove, Parkland County reach annexation agreement. The City and Parkland County both voted to approve a memorandum of agreement at their respective council meetings on Tuesday for the annexation of land. The City and Parkland County both voted to approve a memorandum of agreement at their respective council meetings on Tuesday for the annexation of land. In all, the city will grow by 458 hectares with future lands identified for potential growth beyond the current 30-year plan. Read full story here.

New affordable housing for people 55+ announced for Stony Plain

Monday, April 22, 2019

Sixty-three one-and-two bedroom units will be built to support low-income residents. New affordable housing is coming to Stony Plain for people 55 and over. The collaboration between the Alberta government and the Meridian Housing Foundation was announced. It will bring 63 one-and-two bedroom units to the community to better support people on low-income. Meridian Housing Foundation currently houses over 250 seniors in Parkland County and will manage the new four-storey complex. Read full article.

Cannabis producer set for operation in Parkland County

Friday, April 19, 2019

In fact, some of the biggest supporters of the company have been those in other ag sectors to the point they have invested. The next chapter of agriculture is being written with cannabis in Parkland County. In the run-up to the plant and its related products’ nearly century-long prohibition coming to a complete end in 2018, Troy Dezwart and co-founders Gianfranco and Julie Girard Potestio formed Freedom Cannabis. They took possession of their Acheson warehouse, office and manufacturing space in February 2017. Construction of part one finished in December 2018 and more has to be done before they can begin their goal of...

Parkland County focused on investing in region

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Front and centre for Parkland County is the changing economic climate brought on by the phase out of coal energy, which directly affects their assessable tax revenue, and a dwindling pot of revenue from the provincial and federal governments. Parkland County mayor Rod Shaigec is well practiced on his message of perseverance and positive outlook in challenging times. Such was his mantra during the State of the Region Address at the Heritage Pavilion as all three local municipal mayors talked about the past year and their forecasts for the future. Read full article.

Spotlight on the Future of Work

Monday, April 15, 2019

Preparing our Workforce and our Youth In the age of AI, automation and tech disruption across every sector of our present and future economies, the future of work is a crucial consideration for governments, employers, employees, students and our youth alike – it impacts us all. This Spotlight explores the factors that are combining to drastically change how employers select and train their employees, how students and the workforce must embrace lifelong learning, how our educational institutions must approach work-integrated learning, and what roles our governments must play to direct our collective approach to the future of employing, employment and employability. Read...

LEARN MORE ABOUT SIX FUNDED HEALTH PROJECTS

Friday, April 12, 2019

Alberta Innovates and Alberta Health Services are proud to showcase the six projects funded through the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Health System program: Enhancing Care in the Community funding opportunity. Read full article.

MUNICIPALITIES ARE SIGNING ON TO WASTEWATER TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPING IN ALBERTA

Wednesday, April 10, 2019

A new wastewater filtration technology, invented and commercialized by Edmonton-based Swirltex, is gaining significant traction with Alberta municipalities. The town of Thorsby is an early adopter of the innovative system, which will be used in the town’s wastewater lagoon for the first time this summer. Read full article.

SHEInnovates Alberta chapter

Monday, April 08, 2019

Dawn de Lima, Chair of SHEInnovates, joins Global News Morning Calgary to talk about SHEInnovates, a group formed to support women-led innovation and entrepreneurship in their communities. Watch here.

Alberta invests in innovation to fuel the future

Friday, April 05, 2019

A historic investment in high-tech industries will create thousands of jobs, attract millions in new investment and help diversify Alberta’s economy. The Alberta government is investing $100 million to attract more artificial intelligence-based high-tech companies to invest in Alberta. Coupled with last year’s investment of $50 million to create 3,000 new high-tech training seats at post-secondary institutions across the province, this represents a significant diversification initiative. The province’s investment in technology will build the industry and business capacity needed to help talented Albertans find jobs here at home. This investment in both Alberta Innovates and the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute (Amii) will...

Expanding technology relationship with Mexico

Wednesday, April 03, 2019

Alberta tech companies will gain new international partners and access to more markets thanks to a new agreement with the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon. As part of Premier Rachel Notley’s focus on jobs and economic diversification, the Alberta government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nuevo Leon to explore opportunities that promote innovation. The agreement is focused on the areas of information and communication technologies, life sciences, environmental technologies and clean energy. Alberta is the first Canadian province with this type of MOU with the Mexican state. Read full article.

Spruce Grove-Stony Plain candidates talk economy and pipelines

Friday, March 29, 2019

SPRUCE GROVE EXAMINER Two of the biggest financial concerns for local candidates heading into the election are the ramifications of coal mines shutting down, and questions surrounding the oil and gas sector. NDP incumbent Erin Babcock said earlier this year the party has short, mid, and long term plans to boost the energy sector, including continuing to fight for the completion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. “I absolutely believe since the federal government bought Trans Mountain it will at some point go through. Right now, capping production with the differential has worked. Rail cars are the mid term … upgrades do not get...

Inventures 2019 Offers Deep Dive for Startups

Monday, March 25, 2019

Inventures 2019 is offering a comprehensive program for entrepreneurs and innovators, June 5-7. With more than 200 speakers, the business and innovation conference, in Calgary, features leaders who have helped startups prosper and thrive around the world. Click here for the complete article.

Spotlight on Indigenous Economic Development

Friday, March 22, 2019

Growing a $100 Billion Aboriginal Economy The Indigenous economy in Canada was estimated at $32 billion in 2016 – and its growth has been outpacing that of the national economy since then. With the Aboriginal youth population set to grow at 4 times the national average in the coming years, the Indigenous economy represents large untapped potential for the growth of Canada’s future economy. But persistent challenges remain: lack of access to capital, limited ownership positions in major projects on Aboriginal territories, a skills gap for Aboriginal entrepreneurs and workforce, and others. But the potential and collective will to grow the...

Alberta announces $100M, 5-year investment in artificial intelligence

Wednesday, March 20, 2019

The Alberta government plans to spend $100 million over five years to attract investment from artificial intelligence-focused tech companies. The money will go to Alberta Innovates, the province’s research development agency, and the non-profit Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute. Some of the initial funds will go toward helping Edmonton-based Amii expand into a new office in Calgary. Read full article.

Made-in-Alberta plan moves $2-billion investment forward

Monday, March 18, 2019

Premier Rachel Notley’s Made-in-Alberta energy strategy is taking a major step forward in diversifying the economy, creating new jobs and adding more value to our resources. Calgary-based Value Creation Inc. (VCI) and its wholly owned subsidiary Value Chain Solutions Inc. are on track to invest $2 billion in an upgrading facility in the Alberta Industrial Heartland, just east of Edmonton, which will create more than 2,000 construction jobs and another 200 full-time positions once the facility is up and running. This is just the first of several new projects made possible through the Made-in-Alberta strategy to do more upgrading and refining of...

Alberta-based solar power on the rise

Friday, March 15, 2019

The Government of Alberta has awarded a historic 20-year contract to supply government properties with solar power from three facilities located between Medicine Hat and Calgary. This solar electricity contract will be the most cost-effective government procurement of solar power in Canadian history. At an average price of 4.8 cents per kilowatt hour (kW-h), Alberta’s proven approach to attracting new investment in renewable energy is once again setting national records, repeating the success of the Renewable Electricity Program. The new contract will supply approximately 55 per cent of the government’s annual electricity needs, saving $3.9 million per year compared to the expiring...

Alberta invests in innovation to fuel the future

Thursday, March 07, 2019

GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA The Alberta government is investing $100 million to attract more artificial intelligence-based high-tech companies to invest in Alberta. Coupled with last year’s investment of $50 million to create 3,000 new high-tech training seats at post-secondary institutions across the province, this represents a significant diversification initiative. The overall investment is estimated to result in: more than 6,000 trained, skilled Albertans the creation of over 140 new companies over 30 new multi-national offices, labs in Alberta over $207 million in leveraged investments by industry increased competitiveness and productivity of at least 150 Alberta businesses through the use of artificial intelligence (AI) Read full story here.

Economic Development Funding & Grants

Thursday, March 07, 2019

GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA The Alberta Government provides a listing of current tax credits, grants, and other funding programs to stimulate regional economic development, some which include Affordable Housing, Indigenous, Export, and Community initiatives.

Spruce Grove to choose site for new Transit Station

Thursday, March 07, 2019

SPRUCE GROVE EXAMINER Residents will soon know the exact location of the City’s new Transit Station. Council passed first reading of the proposed amendment to the Pioneer Lands Area Structure Plan bylaw. The proposed amendment aims to adjust the ASP’S development concept by relocating an area of medium, to high density residential and to better identify the intended location of the Transit Station included in the plan. Read full story here.

Trade Accelerator Program (TAP)

Thursday, March 07, 2019

EDMONTON The Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) is a comprehensive, hands-on series of workshops helping small to medium-sized enterprises scale up and strategically enter the global market.

Canada and Alberta: We need to expand our views beyond our borders

Monday, January 28, 2019

Takeaways: 1- Climate change is bringing new market opportunities and the traditional energy sector already has the applicable skillsets for emerging sectors. 2- Government should step up to take risks where the free market would not, and to initiate innovation. However, the free market needs to come in once those activities are initiated so it can fuel this innovation while making a sizeable return on investment. 3- Canada’s stability is becoming very apparent, and will produce new and expanding opportunities. Action: Canada should aim to reach beyond its borders. We have to get our innovation into a product, get that product into a tangible market, and then make...

INVENTURES 2019 ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONAL PITCH COMPETITION

Friday, January 25, 2019

Alberta Innovates is seeking innovators to participate in an international pitch competition as part of Inventures 2019. Last year, the event represented the single largest source of venture capital in Canada. Inventures is a global innovation conference in Calgary, Alberta, held June 5-7. It brings together the brightest ideas in emerging technologies that are transforming economies, industries and communities across the globe. “Inventures is a great opportunity to attract leading start-ups to Alberta, showcase the outstanding support that Alberta provides to innovators, and help local entrepreneurs connect with a global ecosystem of peers,” said Alberta Innovates CEO Laura Kilcrease. “This event gives top...

Alberta’s economic recovery continues

Wednesday, January 23, 2019

For the second year in a row, Alberta led the country in economic growth. More Albertans are working and job opportunities are growing, with more than 58,900 jobs created in the past year. Alberta continues to have the highest employment rate in the country and the highest weekly earnings, while paying the lowest taxes in Canada. On average, Albertans pay $11 billion less in taxes a year compared to the next lowest-taxed jurisdiction. Read full article.

Area chambers of commerce discuss merger concerns at town hall

Friday, January 18, 2019

As opposed to some things where the largest group gets the most representatives, a new one would see equal representation from the region and the two communities. The developing merger between chambers of commerce in the Tri-Region will not be a poor shift if it goes through, according to various officials. During a town hall in Stony Plain, Stony Plain and District Chamber of Commerce President Kevin White, Spruce Grove Chamber of Commerce Vice Chair Dave Grobman and Debra DeBernardo discussed concerns on the project. A point of discussion since 2016, more than 89 per cent of survey respondents in Stony Plain...

Wind projects create jobs, Indigenous partnerships

Tuesday, January 08, 2019

GOA Private companies are partnering with First Nations to invest around $1.2 billion in renewable energy projects in Alberta, which create new jobs and continue with record-setting low prices for Albertans.

Latest economic highlights for Alberta

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

GOVERNMENT OF ALBERTA View presentations and reports that highlight Alberta's economy.

Industrial real estate booming on city's edges

Thursday, April 18, 2019

Global wood pellet markets increasing

Tuesday, January 08, 2019

CANADIAN BIOMASS Global wood pellet markets have increased significantly. For the last several years, the industrial wood pellet sector was as large as the heating pellet sector, and is expected to become significantly larger over the next decade.

News

Keep up to date with the latest news and notifications that concern economic & business development in Spruce Grove & Region.

“Retaining long-term employees is key. It’s difficult to do, but we’ve done it in Spruce Grove.”

Jack Seguin, Owner, Alberta Precast Products

“Locating in Spruce Grove is prime for us. We need to be centrally located in the province to reach our customers and move our products.”

Anthony Worbeck, Sales Director, ACKT Industries

“The feeling of home and family orientated culture has allowed us to retain our most valuable asset, our people.”

Neil Matheson, CFO, Thompson Construction Group

“The City has the space we need—store frontage with lots of traffic and warehouse space.”

Rik Kaminsky, Co-Owner and CEO, Solaré Canada Inc.

“We chose Spruce Grove because it had the best real estate prices in the area compared to other industrial parks.”

Tim Martin, General Manager, Cross Country Infrastructure Services Canada Inc.

“In Spruce Grove we have everything in the way of retail businesses, excellent schools and first-class sport facilities all right here.”

Braven Blackwell, President, Seljax