Energy Projects Help Boost Economy in Town of Edson – Edmonton

It may be a small town with only around 8,000 people, but Edson is seeing a huge increase in visitors.

“Our rentals are zero percent vacant, our hotels are full, the workers are really supporting our restaurants, our stores, our service businesses,” said Karen Spencer-Miller, president of the Edson and District Chamber of Commerce. . .

Mayor of Edson, about 200 km west of Edmonton, Kevin Zahara, said the area has seen a remarkable turnaround in economic growth over the past year.

About 2,000 people have moved into the community due to three major energy projects underway in the area.

“We have a lot of natural gas producers, so that’s one of the reasons Cascade is being built, which is a $1.5 billion power plant project, and of course we have the Trans Mountain pipelines coming into British Columbia, and TC Energy as well. has pipeline projects in our area,” Zahara said.

SE said the influx of workers has created a significant demand for housing.

He said events, including major hockey tournaments, have had to be canceled because there just isn’t room.

“These people are staying in our hotels, they’re renting out rooms, citizens are renting out their basement suites, for example, or maybe they’re renting out a room in their homes and generating revenue that way,” he said. Zahara.

Last year, the city struggled with some high-profile crimes and businesses that were hit hard by the pandemic.

But Edson’s Chamber of Commerce said that financial rebound has benefited bank accounts and improved morale.

“We’re definitely thrilled, we’re thrilled with our business,” chamber president Karen Spencer-Miller said.

Spencer-Miller said while this boom is temporary, she hopes Edson’s location and economic opportunity will attract more people and businesses who want to stay for the long haul.

And Mayor Zahara said there are incentives for that.

“We are currently taking a number of initiatives to reduce bureaucracy in order to encourage development. We have laws in place if someone wants to develop a commercial property, for example, they don’t have to pay taxes for the first two years of that development,” Zahara said.

Zahara said at this point the city doesn’t know how much money has been generated from this recent boom, but whatever amount is a welcome boost.