North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater and MLA Herb Cox cut a ribbon to signify the MEEP funding of more than $2 million. (Josh Ryan/battlefordsNOW)

By Josh Ryan

Pandemic projects

Mayor, MLA highlight North Battleford’s MEEP funding

Sep 21, 2020 | 5:31 PM

Despite economic strife, North Battleford has growth potential for the immediate, and distant, future.

MLA Herb Cox and Mayor Ryan Bater spoke at a ribbon cutting Monday, officially acknowledging the 2020 Municipal Economic Enhancement Program (MEEP) allocation for the city. North Battleford receives $2,057,472 of the more than $7 million provided by MEEP.

“These funds are going to help economies all across the province,” Cox said.

The statement came at Carlton Trail, between the newly constructed Montana’s and Comfort Inn & Suites, where the $1,450,000 improvement of the intersection and roadway is underway. The other project receiving money, the 100 Street service road improvements, is partially complete itself, a job that had been on the table for 13 years. Both projects were pushed ahead quickly after the news of MEEP funding allocations came in May.

“So, this is a great opportunity to get some local people employed and to do some of these projects that have been put off for a while,” Cox said.

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The Carlton Trail project has multiple goals, including traffic safety. Mayor Bater said their study of the previous interaction leading into Walmart found that this adjustment of the road system will better direct drivers and reduce the risk of accidents.

“This will be a lighted intersection, which will allow for a more safe traffic pattern for people to access all the commercial properties here,” Bater said.

There’s also development potential for this area of the city that Bater hopes will grow. The planning and development team had made sure the project was shovel ready, in order to accommodate better parking access for the Comfort Inn & Suites, as well as pave way for the newly constructed Montana’s.

“That project we would have had to turn down, if we had not gone through with this investment,” Bater said.

Bater added they are working with multiple developers for potential properties there. Both MEEP funded projects are expected to reach completion prior to Christmas, even with the risk of cold weather and snow.

“We will be prepared for that, that’s all part of the process, but our hope is that we can get them done this fall,” he said.

Bater thanked the province for investing in the economy this summer and making the funding available during the biggest health and economic crisis of our lifetime. In addition to the short term boost and long term potential for growth, local bids were given the contract work, providing key jobs for residents.

“It’s really important that people are working, it’s really important that there’s economic activity,” Bater said. “And for local firms to be awarded the bids is incredibly important, especially the families that it impacts.

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josh.ryan@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JoshRyanSports