INDUSTRY

The economic base of Provost is agriculture and oil. Provost has a thriving population of 1980 plus residents, a 4% increase from 1996 to 2001, and the surrounding M.D. of Provost - 2635. Overall the region continues to experience steady growth. Our location, natural resources and economy provide unique opportunities for those willing to work hard. Agriculture Agricultural production is primarily cattle ranching and grain farming. The Municipal District of Provost is one of the richest agriculture areas in Alberta, located in the southeast portion of East Central Alberta and covering 893,526 acres. It has the largest average farm size in the region at 1,809 acres with 39.68% of the farms comprised of at least 1,600 acres. Average gross receipts are $278,062 and average operating income is $48,230 - the highest in the region also. The largest farm type classification is cattle at 54.02% with crop production at 36.70%. Grain production capacity in the M.D. of Provost is second only to Peace River on the Canadian prairies and has diversified dramatically during the past decade. The M.D. has a major grain handling facility, an Agricore United inland grain terminal just east of the Town of Provost. Adjacent to the terminal is located the Provost Co-operative Seed Cleaning Plant. Grain production and agricultural service industries will continue to be a growing part of the Provost area economy for years to come. Two provincially inspected meat processors operate in the community and as indicated, Provost is home to a thriving cattle industry. Provost Livestock Exchange Ltd. is one of the largest cattle markets in the Battle River Region, bringing cattle and cattle buyers in from a radius of several hundred kilometres, servicing west central Saskatchewan as well as east central Alberta. Opportunity for agriculture expansion abounds! Although there is limited crop and livestock diversification, minimal value-added processing and agri-tourism; there is excellent intensive livestock production possibilities, in particular, cattle feedlots and pork production. At present the ECAFA (East Central Alberta Forage Association) is planning an Area Specific Value Added Agriculture Feasibility Study. It is expected that the study will identify at least one larger community value added opportunity and a number of smaller farm gate or on-farm diversification and value added possibilities. Oil & Gas Exploration, Production and Services Commencing in the 1970s, oil and gas exploration, production and the inevitable service industry that grows to support high levels of activity has demonstrated tremendous growth in the area. Invariably today, petroleum industry activity surpasses local agricultural production as the dominant economic driver. The Provost oil field is the second largest producing field in western Canada, surpassed only by the tar sands of Ft. McMurray. From Nov. 01, 2002 - Oct. 31, 2003, a total of 243 oil and gas wells were drilled in the M.D. of Provost, approximately 1.32% of all oil and gas wells drilled in Western Canada in 2003. Based on estimated reserves in the Provost exploration field it is expected that intense petroleum production will continue for at least another twenty-five years. Other Industry In addition to being a prominent petroleum and agriculture service community, Provost is also the district centre for community health services, medical services and education. The Provost Health Centre is comprised of sixteen active treatment beds and a forty-bed nursing home with ten beds designated long-term care. Adjacent to the hospital is the local seniors’ residence, Hillcrest Lodge that was rebuilt and expanded in 1998 to accommodate fifty residents. The community is presently planning for construction of approximately another 10 - 25 units as the demand for new seniors’ housing continues to grow. Three family physicians maintain practices at the Provost Medical Centre and a comprehensive range of community health programs are delivered by the Public Health Unit of East Central Health Authority located in the Provincial Building at 5419 - 44 St.. The town has both a public and a separate school that each offer instruction from Kindergarten to Grade 12. Provost is one of the few rural communities in east central Alberta that has demonstrated consistent growth in its student population, a trend that led to the expansion of the separate school in 1998 and then the public school in 2001. The Town of Provost has a treated water reservoir capacity of 4773 cubic metres (1,050,060 gallons). The M.D. and Town of Provost built a new Fire Hall in 1998. A new Town Hall was constructed in 2001. Provost supports a significant service population consisting mainly of migratory oilfield workers in addition to its residents. While not included in any official census figures they nonetheless account for the high occupancy rate in the area’s hotels, motels, rental suites, trailer parks and any other lodgings available in the area. Commercial Development Historic population trend data from the Census of Canada depicts a steady increase in the population of Provost from 1950 - 1990, with growth spurts during the early fifties and early sixties. Following this long period of relatively steady growth, the Town of Provost experienced such rapid growth in the early nineties that by 1997 the town had developed nearly all the commercial, industrial and residential lots within its corporate limits. As a result, the Town annexed 300 acres in 1998 to meet the continuous demand for new building starts and immediately 60 acres were subdivided. Building permits issued from 1993 - 2002 averaged 48 per year at approximately $3,570,992 annually. Simply put, Provost witnessed nearly $36 million worth of new construction in ten years! Although construction has slowed down, almost a million dollars worth of building permits were issued in 2003. Any business or individual wishing to purchase municipally owned land, or considering development within Town limits should contact the office @ 4904 - 51 Av., Box 449, Provost, AB T0B 3S0 Telephone: 780-753-2261 Fax: 753-6889 or Email: administrator@townofprovost.ca Development standards shall conform to the Town of Provost Land Use Bylaw. A Development Permit is required before a Building Permit can be issued. Applications are made to the Development Officer and must be accompanied by the specific information required for processing.

©2003-12 by The Town of Provost All Rights Reserved. Town of Provost Administration Office Box 449 - 4904 - 51 Avenue, Provost, Alberta, T0B 3S0 CANADA Telephone 780 753 2261 - Fax 780 753 6889 - Email info@townofprovost.ca