The City of Edmonton will join the Alberta Industrial Heartland Association on Thursday at the group’s annual luncheon.
Sturgeon County councillors gave their unanimous vote allowing the city into the association at their Tuesday council meeting.
The Alberta Industrial Heartland Association is made up of four municipalities — Fort Saskatchewan, Strathcona County, Sturgeon County and Lamont County — that work to co-ordinate the broader planning issues for the heartland area.
Neil Shelly, executive director of the association, said they have been working very closely with the city over a number of years and it simply made sense to have them on board.
“The two areas now are interconnected and by having them become a member it takes our informal relationship and makes it formal.”
Edmonton has never been part of the association, in large part because the city has no plans for upgraders or major refineries.
The city is planning an industrial development in the northeast area of the city, north of Manning Drive and Shelly said the type of businesses located there will have strong relationships with the upgraders. He said much of the heavy industrial products the upgraders create would be used in these businesses.
“They would take those primary products and turn them into a more usable or even consumer-ready type product.”
Shelly said beyond simply the economic opportunities, there was potential for work on planning for how workers might get to the upgrader area.
In the letter requesting membership, Edmonton Mayor Stephen Mandel said he wanted to build a relationship with the other communities.
“The members of council and I recognize the importance of partnerships with the neighbouring communities of Fort Saskatchewan, Lamont, Strathcona and Sturgeon as we work toward greater economic strength and diversity for the region.”
Association members have typically paid dues based on their size and ability to pay and the amount of businesses their communities receive through the heartland.
Shelly said final details were still being worked out, but a similar arrangement would likely be struck for Edmonton.
