Plans to make the City of Leduc an “aerotropolis” appear almost ready for takeoff following a decision by Canada’s Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, to invest Cdn$1 billion in stimulus spending in the Western provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, hit by declining oil prices. As with most Alberta communities the small city of roughly 30,000 people and neighboring Nisku, located adjacent to the Edmonton International Airport, have felt the impact of plunging crude oil prices, however they have managed to stabilize employment somewhat by focusing on light industry and a growing community of incubator projects specializing in petroleum, agriculture and food technology start-ups and innovations. According to a recent final development study commissioned by the County of Leduc and the city, Aerotropolis would see an “Airport City area on and adjacent to the airport (that would) bring together aviation and air cargo-focused businesses, along with retail, office accommodations, educational, recreational, and business amenities in a dynamic hub of activity.”  The city, that was the site of Western Canada’s first major oil well in 1947, has also received an economic boost from being designated; together with Edmonton International Airport and the City of Calgary; as a Free Trade Zone – one of only three FTZs north of the Canada/U.S. border. Of the two new FTZs, Calgary is the largest, encompassing not only the entire city, but smaller communities within its environs with warehousing, trucking terminals and two major railyards/container handling facilities for CN and CP Rail. In a blog, Tom Dixon, recently retired Business Development Manager, Real Estate, Transportation & Logistics Business & Trade Development for the city said: “The designation … will give both Calgary and Edmonton significant marketing advantages and awareness strategies internationally. “Calgary FTZ branding for the transportation and logistics sector will help identify promotional strategies and accelerate attraction of foreign direct investment.  “Most major US retailers are here already and a growing force in the market,” he said. “However, a second tier of international companies will see Calgary now as an attractive inland port city with a region filled with municipalities that brand all related activity in transportation: trucking, rail and air cargo as part of the new CALGARY FTZ.   “It’s about synergies, infrastructure and commitment to a multi-modal total goods movement hub.”