TAMRMS#: B06
10.1
REQUEST FOR DECISION
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Local Growth and Sustainability Grant
Presented by: Monty Killoh, Government Relations Advisor, Office of the CAO - Government/Indigenous Relations and Environment
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
recommendation
Whereas the City of St. Albert intends to make an application to the Government of Alberta’s Local Growth and Sustainability Grant program to support the infrastructure servicing of Lakeview Business District, be it resolved that the Council of the City of St. Albert, duly assembled, hereby supports this application.
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SUMMARY
Administration is submitting an application to the Government of Alberta’s Local Growth and Sustainability Grant program, to obtain funding to support the infrastructure servicing of Lakeview Business District. A Council resolution to support the application is needed as part of the grant application requirements.
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
At the October 15, 2024 City Council meeting, Council approved the following motion:
“That the Capital Charter entitled “ENGS-085” in the amount of $62.7M, provided as Attachment 1 to the agenda report entitled “Lakeview Business District Servicing” dated October 15, 2024, be approved.”
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
The Local Growth and Sustainability Grant was announced through the Government of Alberta’s Budget 2024-25; the budget detailed the grant as a new tool to support municipalities facing growth pressures, and allocated $60 million over three years for the program.
On October 22, 2024, the Government announced the grant program details, such as project eligibility, deadlines, and expected outcomes. Through a “growth component” applicable for municipalities with a population between 10,000 and 200,000, the grant is intended to be used to build infrastructure that:
• Helps address challenges as a result of rapid population growth
• Increases affordable and attainable housing supply
• Attracts commercial/industrial developments that would lead to permanent jobs in the community
• Helps address challenges as a result of increased tourism
Furthermore, the grant was announced to have a single intake with an application deadline of November 29, 2024, and that submitted projects must have construction started by the end of September 2025.
Based on these stipulations as well as Council’s strategic priorities, Administration reviewed various capital projects that could be eligible for the grant program, and determined that an application should be submitted to request funding to cover part of the ~$15 million tax-payer funded portion of Lakeview Business District Servicing.
A requirement of the grant is to obtain a Council resolution that supports an application, and that this resolution be submitted to the Government by December 20, 2024 (it has been confirmed that a resolution supporting an application may be submitted after the application itself has been submitted).
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
After the Government of Alberta announced the details of the Local Growth and Sustainability Grant on October 22, 2024, Administration - through a cross-department functional team - discussed various capital projects that could be eligible for funding through the grant. Based on both the grant requirements, alignment with the grant’s desired program outcomes, and Council’s priorities, this team determined that an application should be submitted to support the infrastructure servicing for Lakeview Business District.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
None at this time.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks
None at this time.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
Initiative aligned with Strategic Plan:
Lakeview Business District Servicing
ALIGNMENT TO SERVICE DELIVERY
N/A
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendation, the following alternatives could be considered:
ALTERNATIVE 1: Do nothing. Council could choose not to support the grant application, which would result in the application submitted to the Local Growth and Sustainability Grant program being considered ineligible and not being considered for funding.
Financial:
None at this time.
Compliance & Legal:
None at this time.
Program or Service:
None at this time.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks
None at this time.
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Report Date: December 3, 2024
Author(s): Monty Killoh
Department: Office of the CAO - Government/Indigenous Relations and Environment
Department Director: Trevor Duley
Chief Administrative Officer: Bill Fletcher