“Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is playing a pivotal role in Alberta’s and Canada’s economic recovery,” says executive director Mark Plamondon
“Industrial investments in this region are made because companies are looking to achieve economic objectives and environmental objectives,” says Mark Plamondon, executive director of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association (AIHA). “And both of those things can be achieved here in Alberta’s Industrial Heartland.”
This advanced infrastructure, along with an elite pool of educated workers and meaningful business development supports, have attracted dozens of leading companies to the Industrial Heartland already — and there’s still lots of room to grow.
“It’s recognized that there’s a world class workforce here,” says Plamondon. “The decades of operating experience in this region really add value.”
Connecting Alberta’s skilled workforce
Attracting world-class companies to Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is mainly about making connections. Just as a chemist combines disparate substances to form chemical bonds and release power, AIHA connects global manufacturers with the Industrial Heartland’s unique amenities.
“The industrial facilities in this region are long term assets that operate for decades and provide stable employment and good, high-paying jobs,” says Plamondon. “The stability of the facilities in the Industrial Heartland adds value not only to the workforce, but also to the community. Stable economic activity in this region ultimately leads to resilient and growing communities.”
Connecting industry with energy transformation
The goal is to be part of the transition to a sustainable future, and the Industrial Heartland is exceeding global expectations for responsible development.
“As this cluster continues to grow, it continues to add competitive advantages to the region,” notes Plamondon. “The outputs from one facility can become the inputs to another, and central infrastructure and utilities can be leveraged to enhance competitive advantage.”
A key example is the Industrial Heartland’s proposed hydrometallurgy processing plant.
In that facility, Ontario-based mining company Fortune Minerals Limited plans to process cobalt and other minerals to make cathodes for the lithium-ion batteries that power electric cars and portable electronic devices.
“Our experience with the province, the [AIHA] and the county have been extremely positive and welcoming,” he says. “A lot of the preparation has already been done to attract companies and projects like ours.”
Connecting Alberta with business development
It’s estimated 95 per cent of the world’s manufactured products rely on resources and infrastructure that are already available in the Industrial Heartland.
“We facilitate connections, so that companies can accelerate their understanding of the region and accelerate their assessment of their potential project,” says Plamondon. “There’s tremendous collaboration between industry and municipalities in the Industrial Heartland, which helps build community support for industrial growth in this region.”
As Canada transitions to a low-carbon future, manufacturers will need the kind of next-generation technology and resources available in the Industrial Heartland, ready to be harnessed.
“Alberta’s Industrial Heartland is playing a pivotal role in Alberta’s and Canada’s economic recovery,” says Plamondon. “We’re a region that can not only help companies achieve their economic objectives, but also help them achieve their environmental objectives. That makes this region a cornerstone of opportunity for the province with respect to its future growth.”
To learn more, visit industrialheartland.com.