Vulcan and Claresholm are among the southwestern Alberta communities are sharing in a quarter of a million dollars in funding through the Community And Regional Economic Support, or CARES program.

Minister of Economic Development and Trade Deron Bilous said in a new release; "Every region of Alberta brings multiple strengths to our way of life, whether in energy, agriculture, forestry, mining, tourism, or in other areas. This funding will help communities with common interests tackle economic development projects that they might not have been able to individually. Through these projects local leaders are working together to grow and diversify our economy, and make life better for Alberta families.”

The town of Claresholm gets $25,000 for its Claresholm: Defining a Promise project.

Fifty-thousand dollars goes to the Vulcan Business Development Society for its industrial land strategy for the Vulcan Business Park and another $65,000 goes to the Vulcan Brand Innovation Society for Operation Communicate, Accelerate and Collaborate.

Communities can apply for the second intake for the CARES program which runs until May 31, 2017