Red Deer County is applying for provincial cash to fund a master plan for Red Deer Airport.
It is expected to cost about $150,000 to develop the plan, which will lay out a schedule and costs for development phases at the airport.
The plan is the next step following the recent approval of an area structure plan for the airport, which is expected to continue to get busier now that Air Canada has begun running scheduled flights out of the Springbrook facility.
Provincial funding is available through its Regional Collaboration Program, which supports strategic initiatives that benefit groups of communities.
Red Deer County is joining forces with the City of Red Deer and the Red Deer Regional Airport Authority.
If the grant is not approved, county council approved spending $50,000 on the master plan.
A similar commitment has been made by the city, and the airport authority would put in $20,000.
Forecasting growth for the next 25 years, the master plan is expected to provide an analysis of anticipated air service growth, the nature and mix of future air traffic and the infrastructure, transportation and building requirements.
Environmental impacts and the effects of noise on nearby communities will also be examined.