Alberta's Rural Development Strategy 2009 Update

Many rural communities and regions have not shared equally in Alberta’s growth, as evidenced by their slow economic growth, loss of essential services and declining populations. To address this challenge, the Government of Alberta announced a Rural Development Strategy in February 2005 to focus the efforts of industry, business, and government towards realizing economic growth and building vibrant and sustainable rural communities. The Strategy identifies four pillars for sustainable rural communities - economic growth; community capacity, quality of life and infrastructure; health care; and learning and skill development. The priority actions of the Strategy – economic development, community capacity, health care, learning and skill development, environment, youth, seniors, Aboriginal people and rural Alberta’s voice reflect shared responsibility with an emphasis on community-driven actions.

A Place to Grow reinforces the province’s commitment to rural Alberta and focuses the provincial government’s collective efforts on ensuring rural Albertans are able to contribute to and share in Alberta’s prosperity and quality of life. Ministries across government have incorporated elements of the strategy into their business planning process and many have outlined significant rural development investments in their business plans and budgets. An Assistant Deputy Minister Committee on Rural Development, formed in November 2006, provides a coordinated response on behalf of the Government of Alberta to priority initiatives.

The first Report on Progress on the Rural Development Strategy was released in the fall of 2007.

This 2009 Update provides government ministers and their staff a more recent overview of government projects and initiatives directed towards those living in rural Alberta. All government Ministries have contributed to this 2009 Update, providing a sampling of the programs and services for rural Albertans.

Click here to read the 2009 Update.

For more information about the content of this document, contact Patricia Macklin.
This information published to the web on December 3, 2009.
Last Reviewed/Revised on May 19, 2011.