STEP’s advocacy for regional priorities brings more grant funding

The County of St. Paul and regional partners have successfully obtained a number of grants for 2025 to help assess, develop, and implement economic strategies for continued regional growth. St. Paul / Elk Point Economic Development Alliance (STEP) managed the application process with partners, aligning to the region’s economic priorities and allocating resources based on the most applicable municipal partner.

“Through joint council and STEP committee meetings, we understand where our priorities should be,” explained Linda Sallstrom, Economic Development Officer for STEP, “This grant funding will help us to focus on how we can realize those priorities and provide councils with the information they need to make the decisions on how to move forward.”

The grants include four Alberta Community Partnership (ACP) grants, a Northern and Regional Economic Development (NRED) grant, a CanExport Community Investments (CECI) grant, and an Indigenous Reconciliation Economic Stream grant.

STEP is a regional partnership between the County of St. Paul, Town of St. Paul, Town of Elk Point, and the Summer Village of Horseshoe Bay, managing economic development opportunities and growth in the St. Paul region. Over the years, STEP has developed strong partnerships with Travel Alberta, Travel Lakeland, Community Futures, and neighbouring municipalities to further maximize efforts in key industry sectors, including agriculture, energy, tourism, manufacturing, and film.

Grants Managed by the County of St. Paul

ACP: Regional Agricultural Strategic Opportunity Assessment – $200,000

What: Create an inventory of agricultural assets in the STEP region across nine priority areas – feedstock, value-added production, local food, agri-retail, tourism, research, logistics, land, and marketing.

Why: To identify existing assets and business linkages, conduct an opportunity assessment, and develop targeted marketing materials to support future development in the region.

CECI: FDI Strategic Planning and Analysis – $35,000 + 50% match

What: Expand STEP’s stakeholder knowledge of foreign direct investment (FDI) opportunities.

Why: To effectively promote investment assets, priority sectors, and local companies interested in expansion and investment.

The 50% matching funds will come from the above ACP grant.

NRED: Re-Imagining the Windsor Salt Property – $35,000 + 50% match

What: Conduct a feasibility study to repurpose the Windsor Salt Plant, assessing the site’s suitability and identifying viable opportunities.

Why: To attract potential investors, driving job creation and economic growth by diversifying the local economy and reducing reliance on a single sector.

The 50% matching funds were included in the County’s 2025 Operating Budget.

Grants Managed by STEP Partners

Summer Village of Horseshoe Bay, ACP: Alberta Iron Horse Trail (AIHT) Staging Area Development Plans – $200,000

What: Develop a Regional Design Plan for key community-tailored staging areas along the AIHT, with multiple municipalities across Northeast Alberta.

Why: To enhance tourism opportunities and visitor experiences, using AIHT as a central anchor to position communities in a way that they can pursue further investment and access provincial funding for tourism infrastructure improvements.

Town of St. Paul, ACP: Regional Waste Management Service Delivery – $150,000

What: For the Town, in partnership with seven municipalities, to build on their collective involvement in the Evergreen Regional Waste Management Services Commission to assess current operations, identify gaps and overlaps, and evaluate new service delivery models.

Why: To enhance service efficiency, extend landfill lifespan, reduce GHG emissions, and align with the Commission’s oversight, supporting a coordinated regional waste management strategy.

Grants Managed by Regional Partners

MD of Bonnyville, ACP: Meat Processing Facility Study – $175,000

What: Assess the current state of meat processing in the MD of Bonnyville and the County of St. Paul to guide future initiatives, reduce investment risk, and enable public-private partnerships.

Why: To strengthen the region’s agricultural sector, support local food systems, and enhance the capacity of both municipalities.

University nuhelot’įne thaiyots’į nistameyimâkanak Blue Quills (UnBQ), Indigenous Reconciliation: Indigenous Flight Training Proposal – $35,000

What: Deliver a Concept Study on the feasibility of a flight training program at UnBQ and outline a clear implementation strategy.

Why: To assess aviation sector demand, supporting UnBQ and STEP in making informed decisions on potential advancement.