The Agricultural Societies Infrastructure Revitalization Program will provide provincial grant funding from a $2.5 million pool to agricultural societies across the Lakeland and across the province.
The funds, that will be available on an annual basis, can go towards repairs and upgrades to community halls, and properties.
Alberta’s Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson says individual ag societies that apply will be eligible to receive anywhere from $10,000-$100,000. Funding amounts through the Agricultural Societies Infrastructure Revitalization program will be determined by the size of projects and timeframes in which work must be completed.
Aurel Langevin, the president of the Lac La Biche Agricultural Society, said while the announcement is welcome news, it has yet to be determined how the program will benefit the local organization.
“It’s too soon to tell what this means for our Lac La Biche Ag Society since the program guidelines have not yet been issued,” Langevin told Lakeland This Week. “And, yes we do have building repairs that are outstanding and hope we will be able to tap into this source of funding once it becomes available.”
Colette Labrie, the secretary-treasurer of the St. Paul Agricultural Society, said her fellow board members hadn’t heard about the Agricultural Societies Infrastructure Revitalization Program. They might have had some use for it with recent renovations. She said that the society’s buildings are currently in good condition, and therefore, do not require any immediate repairs or upgrades.
“Unfortunately, we have retrofitted our lights and furnaces, and we really have no need for a grant at this time,” Labrie stated.
According to the Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies, there are 291 Ag societies across the province run by 52,000 volunteers, with 3,500 of those volunteers holding board positions.
To access funding through this program, agricultural societies can apply to www.alberta.ca and search agricultural societies programs.
