Coaldale receives $3.475 million in grant funding for industrial rail project

Sunny South News Photo by Karol Miller. CHEQUE PRESENTATION: Town of Coaldale receives $3.475 million in Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP) grant funding for the Town’s Industrial Rail Extension Project on Friday morning.

Town of Coaldale

The Coaldale Industrial Rail Extension Project is the first rail infrastructure project in Alberta to receive funding through the Government of Alberta’s Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program. 

On July 25, Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors, Devin Dreeshen, travelled to Coaldale to officially announce $3.475 million in Strategic Transportation Infrastructure Program (STIP) grant funding for the Town’s Industrial Rail Extension Project. 

Jointly funded by the Government of Alberta, the Town of Coaldale, and NewCold—a global leader in cold storage logistics—the approximately $8 million project will see the construction of a rail spur linking Coaldale’s industrial park to the main CPKC rail line. 

“This project represents one of the most significant industrial infrastructure investments in Coaldale’s history,” said Town of Coaldale Mayor, Jack Van Rijn. “Thanks to the leadership of Minister Dreeshen and Associate Minister Hunter, this investment not only unlocks the development of a $222 million, state-of-the-art cold storage facility by NewCold, but also opens the door to broader regional economic development by making rail-accessible industrial land available right here in Coaldale.” 

The Coaldale Industrial Rail Extension Project is the first rail infrastructure initiative in Alberta to receive funding through the Government of Alberta’s STIP program—a milestone demonstrating the province’s commitment to investing in high-impact infrastructure that will drive private-sector growth, deliver strong returns on investment, and strengthen Alberta’s economic connectivity. 

“Coaldale is a growing hub for agri-food and industry in southern Alberta,” said Minister Dreeshen. “By investing in key infrastructure like this rail extension, we’re helping unlock the region’s full economic potential and positioning Coaldale as a driver of long-term growth.” 

“This project is a game-changer—not just for Coaldale, but for all of southern Alberta,” said Associate Minister of Water Grant Hunter, who also serves as MLA for the Taber-Warner riding. “By funding this rail extension through the STIP program, we’re showing that the Government of Alberta is serious about investing in infrastructure that unlocks real economic potential. This partnership between the province, the Town of Coaldale, and private industry is exactly the kind of collaboration we need to drive long-term growth, support job creation, and help establish southern Alberta as a leading centre for agri-food production and efficient supply chain distribution.”