The City of Cold Lake and the Municipal District of Bonnyville are receiving provincial funding aimed at preparing the region for future economic growth and investment opportunities.

The funding comes through Alberta’s Northern and Regional Economic Development (NRED) program, which supports communities with long-term planning, infrastructure readiness and economic diversification projects.

Cold Lake planning for commercial growth

The City of Cold Lake will receive $100,000 to support planning and feasibility work tied to more than 75 acres of municipally owned commercial land.

According to information released by the province, the project will assess:

• Servicing requirements
• Infrastructure needs
• Market readiness

The work is intended to help position the land for future development and investment attraction as economic activity continues to grow in the region.

Industrial corridor study planned for M.D. of Bonnyville

The M.D. of Bonnyville will receive $127,500 to develop a business case evaluating a potential industrial corridor.

The study will examine:

• Possible locations
• Infrastructure requirements
• Long-term economic viability

The goal is to identify opportunities to attract new industry, strengthen supply chains and support long-term economic diversification.

Focus on long-term readiness

Bonnyville–Cold Lake–St. Paul MLA Scott Cyr said the funding is part of a broader effort to ensure northeastern Alberta is prepared for continued growth.

“These projects may start with planning and analysis, but they are about real outcomes — attracting investment, supporting local jobs, and making sure our communities are ready for the growth we know is coming,” Cyr said.

He added that investment readiness will become increasingly important as the region sees continued activity in energy, agriculture and the planned F-35 expansion at 4 Wing Cold Lake.

Part of larger northern Alberta investment

The local projects are among 13 initiatives across northern Alberta receiving approximately $1.6 million through the latest intake of the NRED program.

Province-wide, the program is supporting 66 projects with nearly $6.5 million in funding.

According to the province, the program has funded 291 projects since launching, contributing a total of $28.7 million toward economic development initiatives across Alberta.

Regional leaders recognized

Cyr also credited local councils and economic development teams for helping position the region to secure funding opportunities.

“This is how we build strong communities — by planning ahead and investing strategically to support long-term success across rural Alberta,” he said.

The projects are expected to help communities identify future infrastructure needs, reduce development barriers and better position the region for investment and job creation in the years ahead.