The Ports-to-Plains Alliance, a grassroots rural-development coalition of nine states, including Colorado, recently signed Alberta, Canada, to its partnership.
Through the alliance, the Alberta government will be able to strengthen its trade relations with local- and state-government leaders in the nine states, officials said.
“There may be an international border between us, but given the similarity of our priorities, our challenges and our common rural heritage, the potential of our collaboration is limitless,” said Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach in a written statement.
The Ports-to-Plains region produces much of the United States’ energy, more than 40 percent of America’s agricultural goods and 14 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product.
Over the past decade, Ports-to- Plains Alliance members have raised more than $1 billion in federal funding for road improvements in the Ports-to-Plains region.
The alliance runs from Texas to North Dakota.
