Alberta’s Infrastructure Minister Announces $690,000 in Funding for Vegreville

Alberta’s Infrastructure Minister Announces $690,000 in Funding for Vegreville

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Alberta’s Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda visited InnoTech Alberta’s Vegreville facility on August 13 to announce the government is investing $690,000 in infrastructure projects in Vegreville.

Minister Panda said the investment is in response to the economic impact of COVID-19. The allotment of funding is for a generator replacement and lighting & branch wiring at InnoTech Alberta.

The project is funded through an accelerated investment in local infrastructure projects under Alberta’s Recovery Plan which is a long-term strategy to build, diversify, and create tens of thousands of jobs in the immediate future.

“These investments in Capital Maintenance and Renewal in Vegreville will ensure that Alberta Innovates can continue to do their important work. We know that these shovel-ready projects will also create jobs, at a time when too many Albertans need work,” stated Panda.

The Minister said they had originally budgeted $7 billion in infrastructure projects for 2020, but added $3 billion more after the pandemic hit, amounting to a 40 percent increase in funding. A total of 50,000 jobs have been created as a result, added Panda.

“Our government’s focus during the pandemic is to protect public health it’s not just about saving lives, but also saving livelihoods by investing in infrastructure projects.”

The Alberta government is spending $3.89 million on five Vegreville infrastructure maintenance projects. These include:

• Investing $690 thousand in capital maintenance and renewal accelerated funding on two infrastructure projects at the Alberta Innovates Technology Futures building in Vegreville.

o $550 thousand to replace the generator o $140 thousand to upgrade lighting

• This is in addition to three other capital maintenance and renewal projects worth $3.2 million underway at the Alberta Innovates Technology Futures building. o Design is underway on the $1.2 million infrastructure maintenance project to repair bricks and mortar o Design is underway on the $600 thousand infrastructure maintenance to lay asphalt on the roadway o Design is underway on the $1.4 million infrastructure maintenance project to replace the roof on the C and D wings of the facility

• The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Vegreville Alberta Research Council Building and Vegreville Provincial Building are part of a $2.45 million province-wide program to replace flooring and update interior paint in public buildings.

Fort Saskatchewan-Vegreville MLA Jackie Armstrong-Homeniuk said, “Projects like the ones we have announced today help keep people in Vegreville working. Building, diversifying, and creating jobs now will put us on a path to restoring livelihoods post COVID-19. I want to thank Minister Panda for coming out to the community to highlight this important announcement.”

Douglas Mills, Director of Stakeholder Relations for Alberta Innovates, stated, “The facility has been a proud fixture in Vegreville since it was opened in 1981. The funding under the Capital Maintenance and Renewal program announced today by Minister Panda is a much-appreciated investment in the maintenance of the site. Thanks to the Minister and the government for their support of the facility and the community.”

He went on to say, “At the moment we have 75 employees at the Vegreville site. This facility is home to Alberta’s whirling disease laboratory; growth chambers that can precisely simulate lighting, temperature, and humidity for agricultural crops; mesocosms that recreate environments for testing; a leading hemp research facility as well as a 600-acre farm with test plots.”

Michelle Henderson, General Manager of the Vegreville & District Chamber of Commerce, was on hand for the announcement and said, “I think it’s great. I think it’s a great thing for Vegreville. It’s going to help the community and it’s going to help Alberta in and of itself because it’s the whole area.”

Vegreville Mayor Tim MacPhee said, “We’re very happy with the Alberta Government investing infrastructure dollars into this facility. It’s a little gem within our community. We’re the envy of most municipalities having something like this. The longer this facility is up and running, providing employment in town, the better this community is.”