City of Cold Lake council has approved a 0,000 federal grant to support renovations and training programs for the Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME-S) project at the new Portage Aerospace Campus.

At its Nov. 25 regular meeting, council authorized the City to enter into a funding agreement with the Government of Canada, through Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan). The federal dollars will support the AME-S program, a partnership between Portage College and the City of Cold Lake that aims to expand aviation training in the region.

Renovations Underway at the City Hangar

The project includes renovating and expanding the City’s hangar to house the Portage Aerospace Campus. According to the City, construction is already underway and scheduled for completion by February 2026.

Portage College plans to begin delivering Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (Structures) courses in fall 2026. It is working with local school boards to offer dual-credit opportunities for high school students ahead of the program’s launch. The Royal Canadian Air Force has also allocated training spaces for the development of aircraft technicians as part of the initiative.

Funding Matches Local Investment

The $350,000 grant will match funding the City has already set aside for the AME-S program. Administration advised that council approval was required before moving forward with the agreement and that any public announcements or celebrations related to the funding must be coordinated with PrairiesCan under the terms of the contract.

Mayor Bob Mattice noted that the agreement still requires approval under the Provincial Priorities Act, which may introduce some delay but is expected to be worthwhile for the project’s long-term success.

Years in the Making

Discussions between the City and PrairiesCan began in June 2023, with a formal application submitted in September 2025. City administration reports that the AME-S initiative aligns with federal economic development priorities and that additional opportunities to support future phases of the project are likely to be well received by the ministry.

Council ultimately approved the motion to authorize entering into the funding agreement with PrairiesCan, pending provincial approval, advancing a key step toward establishing the Portage Aerospace Campus as a regional training hub.