County receives federal funding for business facility and program development

Leduc County has been awarded more than $1 million in federal funding from PrairiesCan to operate a project to nurture the growth of start-ups and small to medium enterprises.

Through this project the former Nisku Recreation Centre (NRC) will be converted into a centralized, multi-functional space with program offerings for businesses and entrepreneurs.

The project will build initial operational capacity, market engagement, and implement programming to obtain real time data to allow for better decision making on the longer-term implications of redeveloping the NRC.

The results of a supplementary business survey will be used to inform a business retention and expansion program, which will support the needs of existing businesses, help businesses grow and expand their networks, improve operations and attract investment.

"We're always exploring new ways to grow and empower our business community. With this funding from the Government of Canada, we have an incredible opportunity to develop a space to support some smaller enterprises within emerging industry sectors.

Small businesses need support and capacity to expand, and we are confident that these projects will meet those needs and, in turn, diversify the region's economy."

Mayor Tanni Doblanko

Federal funding is being provided as part of the Government of Canada’s Canada Coal Transition Initiative. This initiative supports skills development and economic diversification activities to help workers and communities adapt to Canada's transition from coal mining and coal-fired power generation to a clean growth economy with reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

"Our government is making investments that support both a clean environment and a strong economy with the Canada Coal Transition Initiative. Our investment in this new business resource centre in Leduc County will help provide entrepreneurs and innovators with the resources, programming and supports they need to grow their businesses, attract investment and create high quality jobs for Albertans.”

The Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan 

“From agriculture to advanced manufacturing, entrepreneurs and innovators in Leduc County are capitalizing on opportunities to bring their ideas to market and generate new economic activity. Today’s investment will help Leduc business owners expand their networks, grow their businesses, and attract investments across the region.”  

The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance

In 2020 the County received funding from PrairiesCan through the Canada Coal Transition Initiative to conduct a feasibility study on re-purposing the former NRC into a business retention and expansion facility.

The study included visioning, modeling and operational design to transform the space into a business development hub for local businesses, entrepreneurs and start-up companies.