A regional group that helps find opportunities for southern Alberta development has received $730,000 through two provincial grants.
Southgrow Regional Initiative, an alliance of 22 south-central Alberta communities, received $480,000 from the Rural Development Alberta Fund and $250,000 in regional collaboration program funding from Alberta Municipal Affairs.
Southgrow chair Sandra Nelson said the funding will allow towns, counties and municipal districts in the region to learn how to form co-operatives to develop renewable energy options.
“We will be providing training for co-ops and moving them to the next level,” Nelson said at a news conference.
Lethbridge College has met with each of Southgrow’s 22 members to explore options for renewable energy such as wind and solar power. Renewable energy “clusters” will be formed based on those reports.
Nelson said Southgrow is also focusing on water use, quality and quantity.
“We’ve worked on water now for three years and this past year we were able to bring to the table the irrigation people and municipal people and other interested parties to be talking about water in this region for economic development.”
