Industrial growth mindset as Council approves application to seek funding for street extension

By Serena Lapointe

At the end of 2025, Town Council was asked by administration to support an application to the
Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP) under the Resource Road Program
(RRP) stream for a project that would support industrial growth in Whitecourt. The project is
specifically focused on extending 33 Street down to the CN train tracks, opening up more land
for heavy industrial projects. If successful, the Town of Whitecourt could snag 50 percent of the
project’s cost, up to three million dollars.
Whitecourt’s 50-Year Comprehensive Growth Study pinpointed that the most urgently needed
land use for the community was industrial land, highlighting that current vacancies for industrial
parcels and shop vacancies are low. Given the community’s landscape and size of industrial
zones that flank it, Whitecourt does not have many spaces left to place large industrial projects
or to create a new industrial zone.
Along with the growth study, the project also aligns with the Town’s Municipal Development
Plan, which lists having land identified for industrial development as a main goal. It also aims to
prioritize the provision of services for the development of industry and the promotion of the
community as a great spot for industries to do business, giving the community longevity for
years to come.     
The parcel of land north of 41 Avenue at the 33 Street intersection, west of Eastlink Park and
across the road from the Transfer Station, could open up more land for industrial projects with
the extension of 33 Street acting as an access point into the newly crafted industrial area down
to the train tracks.
STIP funding is specifically for maintaining and developing local transportation infrastructure,
and the project fits those parameters. Jeannine Loberg, Director of Planning and Development,
explained that the application is part of getting prepared for the next phase of industry
development in Whitecourt.
“With the STIP funding, there is a Resource Road Program for projects such as this that fund
roads for industrial purposes. The 33 Street extension wasn’t anticipated in our plan until about

2028 or 2029, however we are working with a developer who has indicated they may need this
road sooner to bring on industrial development in that area,” explained Loberg.
She said that getting ready and seeking out funding ahead of time enables the community to be
poised and ready to take advantage of opportunities as they come, rather than being held back.
“That is our next phase for industrial development, and it is important that we are ready to
capture those opportunities should they arise,” added Loberg.
The 50 percent remaining cost to the municipality is encouraged by STIP to be split between the
town and the private sector that directly benefits from the road’s creation. If the Town of
Whitecourt is successful in securing STIP funding for the 33 Street extension project, a cost-
sharing plan will be brought back to a future Council meeting, along with a development
agreement with the private developer. Information surrounding the developer remains minimal,

outside of the extension project and interest in that area of the community. As the planning gets
closer to fruition, more information will be shared with the public.  
 “The nice thing about this 33 Street extension project is that it is shovel-ready. We’ve got some
preliminary engineering done, so it is an easy grant submission to apply for under this stream of
funding. Administration is looking for Council’s support to proceed with the application,” said
Loberg. Before making the motion, Councillor Braden Lanctot said, “I see no reason why we
wouldn’t do this.” His colleagues agreed, passing the motion unanimously.