The CAEP SPARK - June 2026

Momentum is Built Together

June is a good time to pause, take stock of our progress this year, and recognize the momentum that is building across Central Alberta.

At CAEP, we are building momentum by doing what regional economic development does best: connecting people, projects and partnerships so communities can move from opportunity to action.

That work is practical. It shows up in investment readiness. It shows up in stronger municipal and industry relationships. It shows up when we help tell Central Alberta’s story to investors, partners and decision-makers. Most importantly, it shows up when our members see value coming back to their communities.

Through Team Central Alberta, we are strengthening the regional network that links municipalities, industry, education, government and economic development partners. Together, we are focusing on the sectors that have built Central Alberta’s economy and the opportunities that will shape its future.

That includes transportation and logistics, agriculture, ag-tech and agri-food, conventional and alternative energy, critical minerals (see the next story below), carbon capture and storage, data centre development, aerospace and defence, and advanced manufacturing.

The message is clear: Central Alberta is strongest when we act as one region.

Our Three-Year Business Plan lays out how CAEP will keep building that momentum. It focuses on the work that helps our members prepare for investment, support business growth, strengthen regional collaboration and position Central Alberta for long-term prosperity.

When Central Alberta pulls together, we do more than promote the region. We create the conditions for people, businesses and communities to succeed.

Let’s keep building.

Exploring Central Alberta's Potential as a Critical Minerals Hub

Central Alberta has real potential to become a critical minerals processing hub. Its strategic location, strong transport and logistics links, and existing industrial processing expertise make it well-suited to play a significant role in Canada's critical minerals supply chain — particularly when it comes to midstream processing and refining.

The Future Materials Alliance brought together industry, government, Indigenous partners, post-secondary institutions, and regional stakeholders for a workshop series to explore what that opportunity could look like. Participants examined the possibilities, surfaced the challenges and barriers, and worked to align around a shared regional vision.

This work was captured in the Central Alberta Corridor Summary Report. It outlines a suite of four priority solution initiatives as a practical starting point for building a more integrated and competitive critical materials sector and positioning the region for long-term prosperity.

For more information, please contact Emily Blocksom at eblocksom@energyfutureslab.com

Lunch and Learn Sessions: New CAEP Economic Data Portal

All CAEP members are welcome to join us for a virtual Lunch and Learn session to learn more about CAEP's new economic data platform, powered by CityViz.

As announced at CAEP's May 8th Annual General Meeting, CAEP members now have access to a powerful new economic data platform, accessed through the CAEP website here: https://data.investcentralalberta.ca/

This platform will help communities build a more cohesive investment attraction story. It provides regional and community-level data on population, labour force, business counts, transportation, broadband, social infrastructure, power infrastructure and other key indicators.

It also includes report-building tools that can generate charts, maps, data tables and investment packages.

It will help members:

· Respond faster to investor questions

· Build stronger investment packages

· Use consistent and current data

· Compare opportunities across the region

· Support community profiles, grant applications and business cases

CAEP and CityViz are hosting three Lunch and Learn sessions:

Thursday, June 18

Wednesday, July 22

Wednesday, September 9

Want to learn more? Contact: Marta Bristow at mbristow@investcentralalberta.ca 

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Paul Salvatore, BA, ALUP, CLGM

Executive Director  

Email: psalvatore@investcentralalberta.ca

Phone: 587-447-2237

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