Officials gathered on Friday to celebrate more than $3 million in government money that will fund Phase 2B of Coaldale's Malloy Drain Project. 

Kenney says the money is to be used to modernize and build new irrigation infrastructure and increase water storage capacity.

The $42 million co-op fertilizer facility offers more than just run-of-the-mill fertilizer supplies by blending and distributing crop nutrition products

Critics of the project note the province has yet to conduct an environmental impact assessment or consult with First Nations.

The city said it’s upgrading the on-site irrigation to help preserve jump lines and allow for more tree planting.

“We have been making every effort possible to free up water availability in the system."

Hunter adds the provincial government is proactively recognizing southern Alberta as an 'economic engine,' and says more funding announcements to create job opportunities in the region will be made in the following weeks.

"We really don’t know exactly what the consequences will be.”

The commitment builds off of a $4-billion government irrigation investment in the Saskatchewan Conservation and Development Association announced last year.

The project will double the irrigable land in Saskatchewan within 10 years, according to the government.