#127, Centre 2000
11330-106 St.
Grande Prairie, AB
Canada T8V 7X9
P 780.532.5340
F 780.532.2926
E [email protected]
www.grandeprairiechamber.com
NEWS RELEASE
Study Shows Grande Prairie Area Ripe with Opportunities
with New Hospital on the Horizon
For Immediate Release
Wednesday, November 16, 2016
The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with local municipalities
and regional stakeholders, released a study today showing the new Grande Prairie Regional
Hospital, expected to open in 2019, is creating a multitude of economic opportunities across the
Grande Prairie Region. The Economic Impact Study and Gap Analysis, conducted by Deloitte,
also estimates that Regional Hospital operations will generate an economic impact of around
$443.7 million annually.
The $647.5 million regional hospital and state-of-the-art cancer centre is currently under
construction in the City of Grande Prairie and will provide healthcare services to patients from
across the province’s northwest.
Felix Seiler, chair of the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce, says the study is a
proactive tool that will arm local governments, businesses and organizations with the
information and insights they need to be ready for the opening of the new regional hospital.
“The study will give our region an ‘edge’ as we prepare for the opening of one of the largest
public projects in this area’s history,” says Seiler. “It has identified what gaps we as communities
need to address and what opportunities are available – from business ventures, to
transportation, to education, and much more – helping ensure we can provide people with the
very best healthcare experience and the very best in services while they are in the region.”
He adds: “This initiative brings together visionary stakeholders from across the region with a
commitment to working together to ensure we’re identifying not only what needs and
opportunities exist, but how we will work collaboratively to ensure ‘community and regional
readiness’ when the hospital opens its doors.”
The group of stakeholders, organized as the Grande Prairie Chamber Regional Economic
Development Group, includes the Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce, City of
Grande Prairie, County of Grande Prairie, MD of Greenview, Grande Prairie Regional College,
Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation, Northern Alberta Development Council and
Alberta Health Services.
Seiler says that now, with the report in hand, stakeholders are continuing to meet to put the
study’s findings into action. For more information, please contact the Chamber at 780.532.5340.
The study can also be found at www.grandeprairiechamber.com.
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Connecting Business.
Creating Opportunity.
#127, Centre 2000
11330-106 St.
Grande Prairie, AB
Canada T8V 7X9
P 780.532.5340
F 780.532.2926
E [email protected]
www.grandeprairiechamber.com
Media Contacts
Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce (project lead)
Felix Seiler, Board Chair
780.830.6518
City of Grande Prairie
Mayor Bill Given
780.538.0300
County of Grande Prairie No.1
Bill Rogan, CAO
780.814.5090
MD of Greenview
Diane Carter, Communications Officer
780.524.7600
Grande Prairie Regional College
Don Gnatiuk, President
780.296.6406
Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation
Cindy Park, Executive Director
587.297.0748
Northern Alberta Development Council
Janis Simpkins
780.422.9176
Connecting Business.
Creating Opportunity.
#127, Centre 2000
11330-106 St.
Grande Prairie, AB
Canada T8V 7X9
P 780.532.5340
F 780.532.2926
E [email protected]
www.grandeprairiechamber.com
FACT SHEET
Report Highlights
Economic Impact
•
It is estimated that Grande Prairie Regional Hospital (GPRH) operations will generate
around $443.7 million in output and $276.7 million in GDP annually in Alberta.
•
Because of the overall increases in economic activity, certain tax revenues are expected to
increase, generating expected incremental taxes of $14.4 million.
•
Annual impact to labour income across Alberta is expected to be approximately
$212.7 million. GPRH’s operations are expected to also create and/or maintain
approximately 2,473 FTEs across the Province.
•
Industries such as retail trade; health care and social assistance; and accommodation and
food services are among the top ten industries that will experience the largest shares of
economic impact – in both output and employment.
Regional Impacts
With a large share of the direct impacts stemming from labour income and a favourable industry
mix, the Grande Prairie Region should realize a significant proportion of the impacts of the
GPRH’s operation. The study also identified that the GPRH is expected to increase regional
socio-economic benefits in the following areas:
• Quality education
• Labour productivity
• Overall standard of living
• Industry diversification and business attraction
Gaps
A number of areas were explored to identify potential gaps. The most pressing are:
Labour: The study identified a gap in labour for the GPRH. The new facility will require 507 new
healthcare workers. Most critical are physicians and specialists; physiotherapists and
occupational therapists; x-ray and laboratory technicians and assistants; nutritionists/dieticians;
pharmacists; and pharmacist technicians and assistants.
Accommodation: The study identified the need for permanent housing to address the growing
number of new workers in the region.
Supporting Medical Services and Facilities: The study identified school facilities (K-12) will feel
the pressure of the growing population as new workers arrive. Child care facilities also need to
be addressed as the economy surges.
Connecting Business.
Creating Opportunity.
#127, Centre 2000
11330-106 St.
Grande Prairie, AB
Canada T8V 7X9
P 780.532.5340
F 780.532.2926
E [email protected]
www.grandeprairiechamber.com
Education and Training Gaps: The study explored whether the Grande Prairie Reginal College
and neighbouring regional colleges have the ability to output graduates with expertise required
to support GPRH services. Needs were identified in a number of areas, with the most pressing
trained graduates from physical therapy and occupational therapy assistant and pharmacy
technician program. Trained graduates from programs offered at universities is also a more
pressing need.
Retail and Food Services Gaps: The greatest needs identified were entertainment and leisure,
arts and culture, full service restaurants, and child care.
Non-emergency Transportation: The study identified that regional transit gaps, enabling patients
and workers to get to and from the hospital, remain an unaddressed issue. As well, the
development of a regional transportation hub (which would service the city and the region) near
the GPRH is an opportunity that should be explored. The City of Grande Prairie has also
indicated improvements to road networks adjacent to the new GPRH are required. A gap in
direct commercial flights from the catchment areas also exists.
Grande Prairie Region Hospital
Information about the new Grande Prairie Regional Hospital can be found at:
http://www.albertahealthservices.ca/about/Page2408.aspx
Connecting Business.
Creating Opportunity.