EDA News Centre

The following information appears in a Provincial Government Information Bulletin today:

"As we continue to rebuild communities following the recent floods, the Redford government is committed to providing accurate and timely information to Albertans.

The floods that began on June 20 impacted more than 100,000 Albertans in 30 communities. Since the flooding began:

• More than $150 million in disaster assistance has been provided to nine municipalities to allow them to begin rebuilding.

• Almost $70 million in immediate support has been distributed as pre-loaded debit cards or cheques to more than 40,000 Albertans forced from their homes. The deadline to apply for this support is September 30.

• More than 8,600 applications for Disaster Recovery support have been received, with 2,324 payments made, totaling over $11.2 million.  Many applications received are incomplete either because applicants are waiting for insurance information or because required information has not been provided. Any applicant who has not received an initial payment is encouraged to contact the Disaster Recovery office in their community or call 310-4455 toll-free in Alberta to ensure their applications are complete and mailing address is up-to-date. The deadline to apply for this support is November 30, 2013.

• Over 1,100 applications for Disaster Recovery support have been received from small businesses impacted by the floods.

• Fifty-three applications for relocation from homeowners who lived in the floodway are currently being processed.

• More than 2,000 Albertans are still out of their homes, including almost 1,300 living in temporary neighbourhoods in High River and Siksika. A temporary neighbourbood that will accommodate approximately 700 people will open in the coming weeks in Calgary.

• Temporary classrooms will be available to support the 950 students displaced from the three schools most impacted by the floods. Students will continue moving into these classrooms as soon as they are completed.

• Five health facilities that provide direct patient care damaged by the floods have been safely repaired and are serving Albertans. Reconstruction on two supporting facilities, the High River Annex Building and the High River Health Unit, is set to begin soon.

• Public health inspectors carried out more than 10,000 inspections and consultations to assist Albertans affected by the flood. This includes assessments and inspections of hospitals, restaurants, schools, day cares and other public facilities, as well as private drinking water consultations and owner-occupied home assessments and consultations.

• Of the 985 kilometres of provincial roads and bridges closed as a result of damage, 857 kilometres, 87 per cent, have been reopened. For up-to-date information on road closures, visit the Transportation website’s interactive map.

• Approximately 200 bridges have now been inspected, with 30 of these bridges receiving significant damage. All but one (Highway 547 Bow River Bridge in Siksika First Nation) of the major bridges closed as a result of the June flooding are re-opened, either fully or partially.

• Of the 1,058 kilometres of recreation trails closed in Kananaskis Country, almost all have been reopened either fully or partially. Eighty-three per cent of the area’s 38 front-country campgrounds were reopened by the end of August as were 78 per cent of the 98 day use areas. Visit AlbertaParks.ca for up-to-date information.

• Alberta Flood Information Line operators have taken questions from more than 23,000 callers since opening on June 24.

• Fourteen information sessions have been held in more than 10 communities to answer Albertans’ flood-related questions.

• In High River, over 600 metres of damaged rail track have been removed and the CP Rail Bridge is in the process of being dismantled to allow for safer river flow through the town.

• More than 22 Olympic-sized swimming pools of material have been scraped to re-establish the safe flow of the Highwood River. 

Media inquiries- Kim Capstick, 780-405-2983
Communications, Flood Recovery Task Force

 

Public consultations for the 2014 Provincial Budget begin in a couple of weeks. If you wish to participate in this process, refer to the chart below for exact dates, times and locations.

EDA is pleased to offer you two educational Webinars designed to enhance your professional development:

1. If you are interested in learning new ways to engage with board members and generate innovative initiatives then join one of EDA's strategic partners, the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) for its next Webinar:

Turning Your Board Members into Owners of Change

September 26, 2013
Time: 12:30- 2:00 MT (2:30 - 4:00 pm EST)

This results-oriented process will energize and captivate your board members, deeply involving them in a process through which they will take ownership of change initiatives and commit to seeing them through, both financially and politically.


2. If you would like to learn how to put your economic development marketing plan on paper then register for the next webinar in EDA's Marketing Masters Series:

How to Write a Great Economic Development Marketing Plan

September 26, 2013
Time:12:00-1:30 MT (2:00-3:30 EST)

This webinar will give you the tools to create your marketing plan for:business attraction, marketing your organization, launching your new program.

EDA is pleased to offer its "Economic Development-Establishing the Foundation" online course again this Fall. This is the second time we have offered the course in this easily accessible and flexible format. This foundation course is the first in our CEDTP series and it will provide you with the knowledge and skills to become proficient in economic development.

The online course runs November 5-December 3, 2013 for a total of 15 hours.

To register click here.

Last May, EDA and the U of C began this method of course delivery. Online training has become a favoured tool for many corporations and organizations and EDA is keeping step. These courses are eligible for credit towards the Management Certificate-Economic Developers offered through the University of Calgary in conjunction with EDA. You can also visit the "events" section of our website to read more about the course.

The Hon. Thomas Lukaszuk, Deputy Premier and Minister of Enterprise and Advanced Education is seeking applications from individuals interested in serving as members of the Alberta Economic Development Authority (AEDA) Board. For more information visit the Members section of our website under Career Opportunities.

As of September 16, 2013, the Invest Canada-Community Initiatives (ICCI) component of the Global Commerce Support Program will be accepting applications from Canadian communities seeking financial support for their foreign direct investment initiatives for the 2014 calendar year.

Applications must be submitted before midnight (Pacific Time), on Friday October 25, 2013. Communities must submit the final draft of their application by the deadline to be considered for funding. Incomplete applications will be rejected. We would like to remind you that only one submission is allowed per applicant.

Communities that had submitted an application in 2013 will still be able simultaneously submit claims, modifications or progress reports through the online system.

Building a successful business and building a successful community have characteristics in common; both efforts depend more and more on establishing partnerships, co-marketing strategies and collaboration.

The next Webinar in the EDA Lunchinar Program delivers the fundamentals of establishing partnerships and collaboration, and it helps you navigate the world of sponsorships.

Called "50 Shades of Partnership-Building Community Partners, Corporate Champions and Collaboration," Chris Reed of the Partnership Group will share his 20 years of experience in strategic planning, brand management, project/event execution and promotions. Register Now.

"50 Shades of Partnership-Building Community Partners, Corporate Champions and Collaboration"
Tuesday, September 10
12-noon-1:00pm (MST)

$25 for EDA Members
$40 for Non-Members

Read about the Lunchinar and who's involved here.

The EDA Lunchinar Program features six 60-minute Webinars delivered over the noon-hour on a variety of topics ranging from building resilient communities to creating sustainable community plans.

EDA has partnered with Charmaine Hammond, from Hammond International Inc. Charmaine is an expert in showing professionals how to build resilient teams and a collaborative culture and is facilitating the Lunchinars.

In the EDA Lunchinar Program, different guests and experts will join Charmaine. You’ll hear several perspectives, be provided with the recording of the Webinar, and the Webinar summary.

On July 24, EDA along with the Economic Development Association of British Columbia (EDABC) and the International Economic Development Council (IEDC), presented the Webinar:"Economic Recovery: What Happens After the Storm?"
A recording of this Webinar is now available on the EDA Website.

This Webinar is an important tool to help initiate the process of economic rebuilding after the worst flood in Alberta's history. Economic development organizations have a critical role in future economic recovery efforts. EDA and EDABC realize their members will, and must play a lead role in their respective regions.

Economic Developers Alberta (EDA) is pleased to announce a new series of six Webinars designed to enhance your professional development.

Called the "EDA Lunchinar Program," it features 60-minute Webinars delivered each Wednesday over the noon-hour on a variety of topics ranging from building resilient communities to creating sustainable community plans. Read about the Lunchinars here.

EDA has partnered with Charmaine Hammond, from Hammond International Inc. Charmaine is an expert in showing professionals how to build resilient teams and a collaborative culture and will be facilitating the Lunchinars.

"EDA is known for delivering world-class educational and professional development programs and I am thrilled to lend my expertise to the information EDA provides. Our Lunchinar series will equip participants with concrete tips and timely examples on a range of topics that I know will enhance their economic development practice," says Charmaine.

The first Lunchinar is:
Communities that Bounce Forward‐ Resilient and Thriving Communities
Wednesday, August 14
12-noon-1:00pm (MST)
Register here

In the EDA Lunchinar Program, different guests and experts will join Charmaine. You’ll hear several perspectives, be provided with the recording of the Webinar, and the Webinar summary.

The Business Link invites all community partners and potential partners to join them in this one hour webinar to learn about the exciting new initiatives for collaboration this Fall.