Building stronger communities across rural Alberta

Posted on: July 25, 2025July 25, 2025 Staff Writer

July 25, 2025 Media inquiries

Alberta’s government is providing $114.6 million to municipalities to support 86 local road, bridge and water infrastructure projects.

Alberta’s rural communities are growing, increasing the need for reliable and effective infrastructure to support economic development and a high quality of life. That is why Alberta’s government is providing $114.6 million in grant funding to ensure rural communities have safe and efficient roads, bridges and community airports, as well as modern water and wastewater facilities to support their growing populations.

The funding will be distributed through the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP), the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership (AMWWP) and Water for Life program. STIP provides grants to small and rural municipalities to maintain and improve local road bridges, community airports and local resource roads. AMWWP and the Water for Life program provide grants to municipalities to assist in the construction of high-priority municipal water supply and treatment facilities, as well as wastewater treatment and disposal facilities.

“Rural Alberta is the backbone of our province, driving economic growth, feeding the world and strengthening our communities. Our government is investing in the infrastructure rural communities need to grow and thrive, whether it’s reliable roads, modern bridges, safe community airports or water facilities. These are the essentials that support families, attract investment and keep our rural economy moving. Through Budget 2025, we’re proud to partner with municipalities to deliver real, on-the-ground results that build stronger communities and a stronger Alberta.”

Danielle Smith, Premier

“Rural communities are vital to Alberta’s success. In Budget 2025, we are making targeted investments through the Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program and our water grant funding programs to ensure rural communities across the province have effective transportation and water infrastructure to support their continued growth and prosperity.”

Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors

A total of 51 local road, bridge and community airport projects are receiving funding this year under STIP. They include a $2.6-million grant for reconstruction of Range Road 150 in Newell County, west of Brooks. This road is an important part of the county’s future truck route, providing connectivity for residents and commercial traffic between Highway 1 and Highway 542. STIP grants also include a $2.5-million grant for airfield pavement rehabilitation at the CYLB airport in Lac La Biche County and a $3.6-million grant to support the replacement of the Township Road 352 bridge over the Little Red Deer River, 23 kilometres west of Innisfail.

Additionally, a $3.5-million grant will support an industrial rail extension project in Coaldale, which will allow local producers to transport southern Alberta-grown and manufactured goods to a global customer base in the agrifood processing sector.

Funding is being provided for 35 water and wastewater projects this year in small and rural communities across Alberta. Approved projects under the Alberta Municipal Water/Wastewater Partnership include an $8.9 million grant to the City of Brooks to design and build a mechanical membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment plant to replace the lagoon-based system, a $2.4 million grant to the Wabasca Water Treatment Plant that will improve services at the existing facility while the community plans for a new water treatment facility, and a $923,000 grant to the town of Sylvan Lake to drill three new wells and upgrade an existing well to increase its water supply and ensure the community has reliable access to clean drinking water.

“We’re very pleased to receive this substantial support from the Government of Alberta. The $8.9 million in funding for our new wastewater treatment facility is a critical investment in Brooks’ future. This project will help us meet the needs of a growing population, support economic development and ensure long-term sustainability for our community.”

John Petrie, mayor, City of Brooks

Projects funded under the Water for Life program include a $1-million grant to the Bonnyville Regional Services Water Commission to support engineering for Phase 2 of the regional waterline extension from Bonnyville to Glendon, providing clean drinking water to many communities along this route. As well, a $14.8-million grant is being provided to the Darwell Lagoon Commission for the Northeast Lagoon Extension project, which will help ensure long-term capacity, protect local watersheds and support future community growth. Additionally, a $1.6-million grant will allow Mountain View Regional Water Services Commission to connect its regional water supply lines to the new reservoirs in the Towns of Didsbury and Carstairs, supplying water to these communities, including water for use in firefighting.

“Rural municipalities are the backbone of Alberta’s economy, fuelling industrial growth across our province. The RMA welcomes these targeted investments in roads, bridges and water infrastructure as a vital step to maintaining safe and reliable rural transportation networks, and we look forward to building on this progress to address remaining priorities. A sustained, collaborative partnership between the RMA and the Government of Alberta will ensure a prosperous future not just for rural municipalities, but for all Albertans.”

Kara Westerlund, president, Rural Municipalities of Alberta

This funding is included in Budget 2025 and is part of the Alberta government’s commitment to supporting rural and small municipalities in building and maintaining critical local transportation, and water and wastewater infrastructure.

Budget 2025 is meeting the challenge faced by Alberta with continued investments in education and health, lower taxes for families and a focus on the economy.

Quick facts

Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP) grants:

51 projects approved for 2025 will receive a total of $41 million in funding under the following STIP components:
- Local Road Bridge Program – 38 projects receiving $23.8 million in provincial funding.
- Community Airport Program – Five projects receiving $3.7 million in provincial funding.
- Local Municipal Initiatives – Four projects receiving $8.6 million in provincial funding.
- Resource Road Program – Four projects receiving $4.9 million in provincial funding.

Water grants:

The 35 water and wastewater infrastructure projects approved for 2025 will receive $73.6 million:
- Nine projects will receive about $33.4 million under Water for Life program.
- 26 projects will receive about $40.2 million through AMWWP.

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