MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Council has instructed administration to apply under a new grant program for funding to hire a consultant to provide strategies for attraction of key businesses to the Olds-Didsbury Airport.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
The Municipal Economic Development Capacity Building Microgrant program has been launched by Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) after receiving provincial funding.
The program provides municipalities with up to $10,000 to support projects related to innovative economic development ideas or plans.
Council considered three project options that might be supported should grant funding be approved: a servicing study for Netook Crossing Business Park; local business marketing project; or the Olds-Didsbury Airport attraction plan.
“This project (the one selected) would see a consultant hired to provide strategies for attraction of key businesses and/or industries to the Olds-Didsbury Airport,” said the county's chief administrative officer Jeff Holmes.
“In collaboration with the ongoing area structure plan committee, this plan would help to identify considerations for the future development of the airport and possible future phases.”
Chris Atchison, director of legislative services, told council, “We had previously done a development plan of the Olds-Didsbury Airport, as we did for the Sundre Airport, which highlighted some more high level things that council could consider to develop out the airport, to make them more attractive.
“This project would see a consultant looking at our existing airports, where we are heading with them and trying to highlight key businesses or industries or even just general aviation and some strategies on how we can attract them to come to the Olds-Didbury Airport.”
Coun. Alan Miller said, “I know we’ve got a fairly good investment in the Olds-Didsbury Airport. I would be in favour of sending some funds that way.”
All council members voted in favour of the motion to apply for grant funding for the Olds-Didsbury Airport option project.
Applications under the program will be reviewed by an RMA committee, with funding allocated based on a competitive application process.
The county previously undertook a development plan through Explorer Solutions that identified high level development potential at the county-owned Olds-Didsbury Airport, located off Highway 2A.
