EEDC willing to take over Edmonton Expo Centre

Edmonton’s economic development arm says it is “willing and able” to take over the rival Edmonton Expo Centre at Northlands if city council decides that’s best for the competing conference centres.

According to a city report issued Thursday, the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation has conditionally agreed to take on the 500,000-square-foot trade and conference centre, currently run by Northlands, as long as it doesn’t hurt its bottom line.

It would also take on the associated parking and run the facility in partnership with the city-owned downtown Shaw Conference Centre.

“We are prepared to do that and we’re ready to handle it,” said Adam Sweet, chief of staff for the Edmonton Economic Development Corporation.

Council has been debating what to do with the competing cityfunded facilities ever since Northlands said it could no longer pay its $47 million outstanding loan to the city. Much of that debate has been behind closed doors as they weighed the option of setting up an entirely new entity to run both facilities, or pick one alone.

FINALIZING A DECISION

Council plans to meet in private again next Tuesday, possibly to make a final decision. But Mayor Don Iveson said that will depend on what else councillors hear.

“I’m hopeful we can conclude things,” said Iveson.

The report released Thursday also says an independent adviser, Deloitte Canada, recommended giving the Expo Centre to Edmonton Economic Development would be the most prudent move.

Edmonton Economic Development is already going through a period of major change. It is planning to give much of its economic development functions to a new regional body, now called Edmonton Global.

BUILDING ‘EDMONTON GLOBAL’

That’s the regional economic development body coming out of the Capital Region Board and panel of nine mayors. City of Leduc Mayor Greg Krischke was elected chairman of the 15 shareholders until the Oct. 16 municipal election.

The Edmonton Economic Development Corporation will still work on tourism and supporting local businesses — assisting startups and technology-based economic diversification, plus promoting local projects for investment to the regional entity.

The board of EEDC has given its conditional support to Edmonton Global, as long as it’s funded and supported properly, Sweet said.

As for Northlands, it has deep assets, a successful fair and a great network of volunteers, said Iveson. He hopes it will continue to play a key role in agricultural development “as a pillar of economic growth around agri-food, ag-tech and food value-added.