More than a data centre: How Sturgeon County is preparing for a new era

A message from BILD Edmonton Metro:

"When we put our rod in the pond, we thought we might catch a trout — but instead, we caught a whale."

That's how Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw describes the announcement that Meta will invest approximately $13 billion in a new data centre within Alberta's Industrial Heartland.

For Mayor Hnatiw, the investment didn't suddenly place Sturgeon County on the map. It confirmed what local leaders had believed for decades.

"We always knew the Industrial Heartland was a world-class cluster," she said. "Meta validated what we already knew."

Located near Highway 643 and Range Road 222, the facility is expected to create thousands of construction jobs, support local businesses, and generate long-term economic growth for the region. The reasons behind the investment are no mystery, according to Hnatiw.

"We have world-class geology, salt caverns, flat land, water, good soil, and access to a skilled workforce of 1.4 million people. Those assets make this region incredibly competitive."

But while the headlines have focused on the data centre, Hnatiw believes the real story is what comes next.

Read the full story for more on how Sturgeon County is evolving to meet the moment in terms of housing, planning, and collaboration.