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Economic Development
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Economic Base

Primary natural resources in the area include large deposits of natural gas, extensive areas of peat, some forested areas suitable for logging; a large number of lakes and natural areas attractive to vacationers and wildlife enthusiasts, and a 50 mile stretch of the north shore of the North Saskatchewan River, virtually undeveloped.

The major economic base of the County is agriculture. The area has grazing lands to the north, good quality flat crop lands to the west, a climate suitable for most crops, ready access to processing facilities, and a large domestic market in Edmonton.

Tourism is a significant growth industry for the County, with numerous small business enterprises starting to evolve as the large Edmonton market looks closer to home for vacation and recreation opportunities. The area is viewed as having significant potential for eco-tourism ventures.

The forest industry has a significant impact on the County as a result of the Alberta Government's Pine Ridge Forest Nursery, a world-scale facility providing tree seedlings for reforestation projects throughout the province. The location of this facility has encouraged development in a nearby rural location of a privately operated greenhouse producing nursery stock for reforestation purposes.

A peat moss gathering. drying and packaging operation has been built near the Town of Vilna, utilizing the large peat bogs in the area. The existing road infrastructure of the County allowed access to the resource areas. Local trucking companies expanded their fleets to meet the demand of moving the product. The Peat Moss industry looks to have strong growth potential showing a steady increase in demand over the last 20 years. Environmental impacts of the Vilna operation have been kept to a minimum using restoration practices developed by Peatland Ecology Research Group.


Natural peat bog.                                          Mosses establishment 2 years after reintroduction of
                                                                   peatland plant fragments.

Statistics from
Alberta First
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