Province funds regional agricultural investment readiness

The Province of Alberta is investing in the Southeast Alberta agri-food sector by funding a multi-year regional initiative focused on strengthening the region’s agri-food sector and enhancing investment readiness with their Northern and Regional Economic Development (NRED) grant.

Funding has been awarded to the County of Forty Mile – one of the partners on the Steering Committee for the Southeast Alberta Economic Opportunity Strategy, along with the City of Medicine Hat, Town of Redcliff, Town of Bow Island, and the Village of Foremost, alongside industry and institutional partners.

The project – focused on the production of shared tools and resources for agricultural innovation and investment – will enhance the region’s ability to attract new investment, support local producers, provide regulatory clarity, and advance emerging agricultural technologies and innovations. These priorities were originally identified in the Southeast Alberta Economic Opportunity Strategy, which was originally released in early 2025.

“This provincial investment serves as recognition of our regional agricultural foundation and the opportunity to build on it,” said Selena McLean-Moore, Director of Economic Development with the City of Medicine Hat. “By improving coordination, tools, and capacity across municipalities, we’re positioning Southeast Alberta to support new investment and innovation in a meaningful way.”

The project will include four primary activities: a Developers Playbook, a Producer Expansion Playbook, a Drone Spraying Regulatory Advancement Roadmap, and an Agriculture Cluster Development Leadership Program. Together, these tools will help support agriculture and agri-food growth across the region by highlighting expansion and diversification opportunities, guiding investment and development across participating municipalities, and reducing barriers that can slow innovation and project development.

With a total project cost of approximately $156,600, the initiative combines provincial funding with local investment and in-kind contributions, demonstrating strong regional commitment to economic diversification and long-term growth.

For more information, explore the two documents below: 

Southeast Alberta Economic Opportunity Strategy

Funding Letter Announcement

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