Archived Crossroads News

Eastern Alberta Trade Corridor (EATC)… Local to Global Forum

Forum Highlights

Close to 100 municipal elected officials, MLAs, CAOs and Economic Development Officers representing municipalities from across eastern rural Alberta gathered to promote regional economic development.

The Northeast Alberta Information HUB (Alberta HUB), Battle River Alliance Economic Development (BRAED) and Palliser Economic Partnership (PEP) through the EATC initiative held the Local to Global forum April 8th- 10th in Vegreville.

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“Buy a Lot for a Loonie” program a big success!

Capping off a big week for the County of Minburn

The “Buy a Lot for a Loonie” Program brought home TWO awards at this week’s Economic Developers Alberta Conference — including Best in Show for Economic Development Renewal. Two awards in one week is a huge deal for the County of Minburn and something our community can truly be proud of. A lot of work went into making this happen, and it’s great to see it recognized at this level. A strong reminder of what rural communities can accomplish with the right vision in place.

Big recognition for a bold idea!

The County of Minburn has been awarded the Economic Development Renewal Project (Small Community/Region) at the 2026 Economic Developers Alberta Conference for their innovative “Buy a Lot for a Loonie” program. This initiative is a great example of how rural communities can think differently to attract growth, investment, and new residents.
By lowering barriers to entry, Minburn is turning opportunity into action—and the results are speaking for themselves.

A big thank you to Alberta Logistics Centre of Excellence for sponsoring this award and supporting forward-thinking economic development across the province.

Crossroads Economic Development Alliance Launches Comprehensive Regional Developers Package

The Crossroads Economic Development Alliance (CEDA) is pleased to announce the official release of its Crossroads Developers Package: Where Opportunity Meets Access — a comprehensive development and investment guide designed to support site selectors, investors, and developers exploring opportunities across the Crossroads region.

The Developers Package represents months of collaborative work by CEDA and its municipal partners, compiling critical data, market intelligence, and regional assets into a single, accessible resource aimed at showcasing the region’s competitive advantages and long-term investment potential.

The document highlights a wide range of key economic indicators, including:

  •    Property Assessments: $1.6 billion
  •     Major Capital Projects: $232.4 million
  •     Building Permit Value: $8.6 million
  •     Cropland: 490,434 acres
  •     Small Businesses: 97% of all enterprises 

Sector profiles within the package showcase strong regional performance in health care, agriculture, retail trade, construction, manufacturing, professional services, and energy, supported by a diverse and readily available workforce.

“This has been a significant undertaking for Crossroads and our partner municipalities. It brings together the data points that investors and site selectors are looking for — from transportation logistics and workforce statistics to land availability, major projects, and sector opportunities and helps position our region as investment-ready”

Kathy Dmytriw,
CEDA, Regional Economic Development Consultant

The guide also outlines significant regional investment opportunities, including a BDO Zone “A” Rating for bio-economy development, covering over 455,000 bone-dry tonnes of wheat straw per year, one of the highest-yield agricultural feedstock zones in Canada and major infrastructure and energy projects, including wind power development, natural gas storage, and transmission expansion exceeding $500 million in combined investment value

Looking ahead, CEDA is already working on its next major initiative: the release of a comprehensive Newcomers Package, aimed at helping individuals and families who have recently relocated to the region better navigate local services, employment opportunities, housing, etc.

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Newly Announced Apartment Complex in Vegreville Will Help Meet Growing Housing Needs

Vegreville, AB (October 1, 2025) – Build Bright Homes has officially broken ground on what will be the first apartment complex constructed in Vegreville in nearly four decades.

The future complex will be built on a nearly 35,000-square-foot parcel of land located at 49 Avenue and 47A Street, which was purchased from the Town of Vegreville for $60,250. The site will accommodate a four-storey, 43-unit building along with on-site parking that meets the requirements outlined in the Town’s Land Use Bylaw. The project represents an investment of more than $3.5 million in the community.

“This apartment complex will help address Vegreville’s current housing demand and play a significant role in meeting the needs of our growing community. We know there is already a shortage of purpose-built rental units in Vegreville, and one of the most common concerns we hear from industries looking to invest here is where their future employees will live. This project represents not only a major investment in our community but also a timely one, as the current housing shortage has been a barrier to sustaining and expanding our economic growth.”

Tim MacPhee, Mayor, Town of Vegreville

According to the Government of Alberta, Vegreville’s population has grown by nearly 5% since 2022, increasing from 5,819 to 6,109 residents. Additionally, the province’s 2024 Apartment Vacancy and Rental Cost Survey reports Vegreville’s apartment vacancy rate at just 0.6%, compared to 4.3% across rural Alberta — underscoring the need for new rental housing in the community.

This apartment complex is the latest in a series of multi-million-dollar investments made in Vegreville by Build Bright Homes. In 2024, the development company broke ground on seven homes in Foxview Estates and continues to advance work on a commercial development at Highway 16A and 49th Street.

“Our companies have extensive experience working in communities similar in size to Vegreville, including Ardrossan and Drayton Valley, and we see tremendous potential here. We are committed to growing alongside Vegreville and are excited to continue making significant investments that support the community’s long-term growth and vitality.”

Kuldeep Sharma, President, Build Bright Homes

Following a photo opportunity at the apartment complex site, members of Vegreville Town Council and local media were invited to tour the newly built homes at Foxview Estates. These homes are nearing completion and are currently listed with local realtors.

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About Vegreville:
Home to the World’s Largest Freestanding Pysanka (Ukrainian Easter Egg), the Town of Vegreville is located about 100 kilometers east of Edmonton and conveniently adjacent to Highways 16 and 36, two of Western Canada’s major transportation corridors. A friendly and thriving community, Vegreville has positioned itself to become a future hub of Agriculture and Industrial Business thanks to its proximity to major cross-continental highways, access to TELUS PureFibre internet and the now under construction Prosperity Industrial Park.

Vegreville_Logo_2022

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Sabrina Curtis
Community Engagement Coordinator, Town of Vegreville
scurtis@vegreville.com

 

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CEDA Completes Regional Survey to Drive Business Growth and Retention

Last Modified: October 6, 2025

From left to right: C.E.D.A. Economic Development Consultant Kathy Dmytriw, Budget Floors Owner/Operator Zenith Komarniski, Vegreville News Advertiser Reporter Rosanne Fortier, Country 106.5 Station Manager Jeff Dyck

Vegreville, AB (December 18, 2024) – The Crossroads Economic Development Alliance (CEDA) has successfully completed a comprehensive regional Business Retention and Expansion study, with the findings now set to play a pivotal role in shaping CEDA’s regional economic development framework.

The study featured three key components: an online survey for business owners and representatives, in- person business visits, and a community survey for residents of the County of Minburn, the Town of Vegreville, and the Villages of Innisfree and Mannville. Participation was robust, with 77 online surveys completed by business representatives, 106 face-to-face business visitations conducted, and 267 responses collected from the community survey.

”I’d like to thank all of the business owners and residents who took the time to complete these surveys. This valuable insight will guide our strategic priorities and projects as the Crossroads Economic Development Alliance charts a course of action for 2025 and beyond.” ___________

Kathy Dmytriw, Regional Economic Development Consultant, Crossroads Economic Development Alliance

BACKGROUND: The Crossroads Economic Development Alliance is a regional economic development partnership involving the County of Minburn, the Town of Vegreville, and the Villages of Innisfree and Mannville. Established in 2024 through a successful joint application for the Alberta Communities Partnership Grant, CEDA is guided by one elected official from each participating municipality and Bob Bezpalko, Executive Director of Alberta HUB. Learn more about CEDA at crossroadsdevelopment.ca.

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Kathy Dmytriw
Crossroads Economic Development Alliance
(780) 632-1738
kathy@crossroadsdevelopment.ca

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Crossroads Economic Development Alliance Launches


County of Minburn, Town of Vegreville, Village of Innisfree, and Village of Manville partner in a collaborative approach to regional economic development.

 

Vegreville, AB (2024)

After months of collaborative effort and strategic planning, the Crossroads Economic Development Alliance is set to launch publicly, marking a significant milestone in the pursuit of regional economic prosperity.
The inception of this committee stems from the successful joint application by the County of Minburn, the Village of Innisfree, the Village of Mannville, and the Town of Vegreville for the Alberta Communities Partnership Grant. Valued at $187,000, this grant provided the necessary funding for the development of a comprehensive Regional Economic Development Framework conducted by Outlook Market Research and the hiring of a Regional Economic Development Consultant.
In January of 2024, the committee – which is comprised of one elected official from each of the involved municipalities as well as Executive Director of Alberta HUB Bob Bezpalko – elected to have Outlook Market Research hire Kathy Dmytriw as the Regional Economic Development Consultant. Dmytriw brings a wealth of business experience and understanding to the role having previously worked as a Program Facilitator with Community Futures Elk Island Region as well as having served as the President of the Vegreville & District Chamber of Commerce.

“I’m tremendously excited to get to work on behalf of the Crossroads Economic Development Alliance and the businesses in Vegreville, Innisfree, Mannville, and the County of Minburn. I’ve already had the opportunity to meet with several business owners and will continue to meet with several more in the coming weeks to get their perspective on what can be done to increase business sustainability and economic growth within our region.

I’m tremendously excited to get to work on behalf of the Crossroads Economic Development Alliance and the businesses in Vegreville, Innisfree, Mannville, and the County of Minburn. I’ve already had the opportunity to meet with several business owners and will continue to meet with several more in the coming weeks to get their perspective on what can be done to increase business sustainability and economic growth within our region.

Kathy Dmytriw, Regional Economic Development Consultant, Crossroads Economic Development Alliance

One of the main objectives for the Crossroads Economic Development Alliance in 2024 is the completion of an extensive Business Retention Expansion Study. This study will see the continuation of business visits conducted by Dmytriw along with the launch of an online survey intended to generate feedback from business owners within the region.

“We’re sincerely hoping local businesses take a few moments to complete this survey as it's an opportunity to offer feedback and opinions about owning and operating a business within their respective municipality. The survey’s results will be presented to not only the elected representatives on the Crossroads Economic Development Alliance committee but also to the Councils of each of the represented communities and in turn may be used as a tool in the decision-making process when it comes to business sustainability and economic growth in the months and years ahead.

Mark Baxter, President, Outlook Market Research

Crossroads Economic Development Alliance’s Business Retention Expansion survey can be taken here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/MinburnBRE?gf_id%20.
All business owners / representatives who take the survey will be entered into a draw for a Business Promotion Package valued at nearly $4,000. The package includes a $3,160 advertising campaign in the Vegreville News Advertiser and a $525 advertising campaign on Country 106.5 as well as an IT Systems and Security Services package from VM Systems valued at $250.
More information regarding the Crossroads Economic Development Alliance, the Business Retention Expansion survey, and the prize draw can be found at www.crossroadsdevelopment.ca.

MEDIA INQUIRIES

Kathy Dmytriw
(780) 632-1738
kathy@crossroadsdevelopment.ca