Province of Alberta Joins Ports-to-Plains Alliance, Offers new leadership as northern anchor of rural economic development partnership

First Canadian member joins nine-state coalition, to promote rural development in North America’s energy and agricultural heartland

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, May 12, 2009 --- On May 12, 2009, Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach welcomed today leaders of the Ports-to-Plains Alliance, a grassroots rural development coalition based in Lubbock, Texas, to celebrate the Province’s recent admission as a member of the Alliance. The meeting took place at Premier Stelmach’s office at the Legislature Building in Edmonton.



Through the Alliance, the Alberta government will strengthen its trade relations with local and state government leaders in the nine Alliance states, several of which already rank among Alberta’s top trading partners: Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming. The Alliance will give Alberta the chance to collaborate with other members to better address the challenges and opportunities common to all the communities in the Ports-to-Plains region, North America’s energy and agricultural heartland.

"There may be an international border between us, but given the similarity of our priorities, our challenges and our common rural heritage, the potential of our collaboration is limitless," said Premier Stelmach. "We look forward to a highly engaged partnership in Ports-to-Plains activities."

The announcement follows several recent events in Texas, including meetings with Ports-to-Plains leaders and Texas Governor Rick Perry at the Texas-Alberta Summit, sponsored by the Ports-to-Plains Alliance, in Austin, Texas, in December 2008, and presentations at the Greater Houston Partnership and at the Rice University Baker Institute in Houston, Texas, last February.


Ports-to-Plains Alliance Press Release announcing Alberta’s membership (May 12, 2009)

Government of Alberta Press Release announcing Alberta’s membership (May 12, 2009)

Texas Governor Perry’s letter of congratulations to Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach (May 7, 2009)

Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach’s Speech at the Texas-Alberta Summit, (December 16, 2008)

On the News

KNEB, Nebraska Rural Radio Association (5/12/2009)
Ceremony makes Alberta part of Ports to Plains coalition ...

KKSA, San Angelo (5/12/2009)
Canadian Province Joins Ports to Plains Alliance ...

City of Lubbock - City News and Calendar (5/13/2009)
Ports-to-Plains ...

Grainews.ca (5/13/2009)
Alta. joins U.S. Plains trade corridor group ...

The Denver Post (5/16/2009)
Canadian province joins alliance ...

PortstoPlainsGroup's YouTube Channel