Lacombe County council made a few tweaks to their 2026 economic development strategy, including the removal of references to renewable energy. A resolution to change the economic development strategy was made after a staff presentation at the Dec. 11 regular meeting of council.

The 2025 Lacombe County economic development strategy was presented by Economic Development Officer Kerrie Taylor, who noted the current strategy was initially approved by council in 2023 and is used by staff as direction. Taylor noted the economic development strategy is a “living” document.

To begin her presentation Taylor reviewed short, medium and long term goals and projects with councillors. In the short term, she noted a number of completed projects including a business directory, business visits and business spotlights, plus many more. Councillors discussed the business directory; Taylor stated that compiling and updating the directory is an excellent way to build relationships with the business community.

Councillors at this point also discussed whether or not all businesses located on agriculture-zoned land in Lacombe County require development permits. Staff said not all businesses necessarily require one, including minor home-based businesses.

Short term projects that are currently underway include a county map of NAICS businesses, plus a number of others.

Councillors observed Taylor’s comment of removing references to the Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP) in the strategy; Taylor responded she wasn’t singling out CAEP, but rather felt the strategy shouldn’t refer by name to outside organizations as Lacombe County doesn’t necessarily know what each organization has planned for the future.

Looking at medium range projects, Taylor noted the Lacombe County data hub has been completed and is live in the municipal website.

Projects in progress include engaging with other local organizations and businesses plus many more and projects that aren’t started include conducting a marketing audit after a year, plus others.

At this point councillors noted a reference in the strategy to renewable energy in Lacombe County; councillors agreed references to renewable energy in the economic development strategy should be removed, possibly replaced with oil and gas references.

Councillors also discussed the indigenous peoples land acknowledgement at the beginning of the document; councillors stated they didn’t believe a land acknowledgement belonged in an economic development document and it should be removed.

Next, long term projects and goals were discussed. One that was mentioned was an economic development committee with the support of local businesses. Councillors discussed an existing committee that Lacombe County sits on with the City of Lacombe.

Taylor responded by observing that with some changes to Travel Alberta, the existing committee may not include all parts of Lacombe County.

Long term projects not started included the Gull Lake intermunicipal development plan (IDP).

As councillors discussed long term economic development, they noted broadband internet service was on the list; they agreed it should be removed from the document as Lacombe County isn’t interested in getting involved in broadband service.

At the end of the presentation councillors discussed some ideas for future economic development in Lacombe County including more industrial parks at the municipal fringe and the current catalogue of Lacombe County’s land available for development. Councillors also discussed more aggressively promoting Lacombe County as a place to live, work and do business.

Councillors unanimously approved the direction they provided staff on changes to the economic development strategy.