Alberta launches new grant to support communities facing rapid growth

Oct 22, 2024 | 12:17 PM

The Alberta government has unveiled a new grant to help take some pressure off some of the province’s fastest growing municipalities.

Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver was in Lethbridge on Tuesday, October 22 to announce the creation of the Local Growth and Sustainability Grant (LGSG). The grant will provide $60 million over three years to help municipalities experiencing population growth-related pressures on public infrastructure.

McIver says the grant comes after lots of consultations with small-to-medium size municipalities about what they need.

The growth component, which includes approximately $15 million in 2024-25, is meant to help mid-sized communities with populations between 10,000 and 200,000 meet growth-related infrastructure needs. The sustainability component is around $5 million, and is earmarked for communities with populations fewer than 10,000 to help address pressing health or safety issues, such as water treatment.

What's Happening in Lethbridge this week: October 21-27, 2024

Oct 21, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: October 11, 2024

Oct 11, 2024

What's Happening in Lethbridge this weekend: September 27, 2024

Sep 27, 2024

The LGSG is an application-based grant that will be open to municipalities facing the challenges, and seeking to capitalize on specific economic development opportunities.

McIver says that while the funding will help out lots of municipalities that need it, he pushed for even more money for the grant due to the large amount of potential applicants.

Applications for the LGSG are now open and close on November 29.

by Christian Oldale