Lloydminster is looking into opportunities to improve economic development with the Northeast Alberta Information HUB.
The HUB currently has 43 members, including three businesses and two colleges. Their goal is to attract and expand investment, as well as support businesses. Mayor Gerald Aalbers says the opportunity to rejoin the HUB is something to consider.
“The City was in the HUB for a while, it withdrew. Now the opportunity is there for us to consider it again, so it’ll be a decision City Council looks at.”
In March, the City named a new economic development officer, who is helping with developing a new economic strategy. Aalbers says despite the steps to increase economic opportunities in the City, being part of a larger economic group is key.
“We have an economic development officer in place to build the economic development locally, but being apart of that bigger piece is critical.”
Municipalities would have to pay 50 cents per capita to join the HUB and Aalbers says that is something they have to look into before making the decision to join.
“It has a budget implication so it’s something we have to make sure we have the money for and we have some clear direction as to what we’re expecting from that.”
The HUB is currently working on regional infrastructure and diversification projects.