Transportation Minister Ric McIvor and Premier Jason Kenney during Friday's announcement (Government of Alberta)

By Justin Goulet

Province announces $200 million in infrastructure grants

Jun 19, 2020 | 11:27 AM

EDMONTON, AB – The province has announced significant funding that’s aimed at getting thousands of Albertans back to work.

Premier Jason Kenney said Friday morning that the province has awarded $200 million in grants to municipalities across Alberta.

$50 million will go to municipalities and be allocated to upgrading local bridges, roads and community airports by way of the Strategic Infrastructure Investment Program (STIP).

$150 million will go towards upgrades and improvements to water supply and treatment facilities by way of Water Infrastructure Grants.

According to the province, the grant funding will support about 1,800 jobs between those two branches.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

STRATEGIC TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (STIP)

“This [$50 million for STIP is] on top of the $60 million already allocated for this program, STIP, in this year’s budget,” Kenney stated.

The STIP funding will go to municipalities to support 69 different projects and according to the province, create approximately 480 jobs.

STIP funding is split into four different categories: improvements to local bridges, community airports, resource roads for industrial use, and local municipal initiatives.

Projects are cost-shared, with the provincial government covering up to 75 percent of eligible costs.

“We know that these are smart investments, because municipalities themselves have looked at their priority lists and told us what projects are most critical to each of their communities,” said Transportation Minister Ric McIvor.

“If you want that small manufacturing business to establish that home base in your town, you need good local roads and bridges for the transport trucks to ship and pick up materials…the link between strong infrastructure and investment is clear – you can’t have one without the other.”

WATER INFRASTRUCTURE GRANTS

The remaining $150 million of Friday’s announced $200 million investment will support 55 water and wastewater improvement projects, creating around 1,300 jobs.

$137 million will be allocated to the Alberta Municipal/Wastewater Partnership for 54 projects.

$13 million will go to the First Nations Water Tie-in Program. This will support a water tie-in program for the Ermineskin Cree Nation to the Ponoka regional water pipeline.

Water Infrastructure Grants support improvements to water supply and treatment facilities, as well as upgrades to wastewater services, including lagoons, berms and sewage treatment.

First Nations funding supports connections to new and existing regional water systems, which in turn helps provide clean driving water to First Nations communities.

Premier Kenney and Minister McIvor’s announcement can be viewed below.