The City of Lacombe has landed a $200,000 investment into the Downtown Area Redevelop Plan (DARP) from the Province’s Northern and Regional Economic Development program (NRED).
The funds will go towards DARP Priority Projects, upgrading the downtown to make it more accessible, welcoming, and vibrant, noted a release.
“Through the Northern and Regional Economic Development program, Alberta’s government is working with communities to support projects that serve the diverse needs of their local communities and economies,” said Matt Jones, minister of Jobs, Economy, and Trade.
“We are excited to partner with the City of Lacombe by investing in projects that will improve the accessibility and vibrancy of the city’s downtown core and ensure it continues to thrive as the cultural and economic heart of the community.”
“This significant investment into the DARP vision shows we are on the right track with the economic and social development of our historic downtown core,” Mayor Grant Creasey said. “I want to thank the Government of Alberta for recognizing the success of the collaborative model we have chosen – spearheaded by the DARP Committee.
“I look forward to the milestone projects this investment will support in the coming years.”
The NRED program funds initiatives led by Alberta municipalities, Indigenous communities, and non-profit organizations that promote regional economic development and diversification.
The NRED program funds initiatives that support economic development and will achieve tangible and impactful results in one or more of the following priority areas:
• investment in economic development infrastructure
• business supports
• labour force attraction and retention
• tourism planning, capacity building, and infrastructure
• economic development capacity building
The City received the maximum funding level supported through the NRED.
These funds will augment Council’s financial commitment to the DARP implementation plan. That investment has supported signature priority projects, including the Heart of Lacombe monument in Lest We Forget Park.
For more details on DARP, including current and upcoming projects and proposals, check out lacombe.ca/DARP.
