A small village east of Edmonton and a Texas-based developer have agreed to expand the tiny town into a booming home for thousands, CTV News has learned.
The County of Lamont voted Tuesday to annex close to 2,000 acres in and around Chipman, a small village of 239 people located less than an hour from Edmonton.
Chipman mayor Jim Palmer said he is excited someone is willing to invest in his community.
"It has been 25 years just trying to survive and it looks like we might have made it," he said.
Triland International, a Texas-based developer, is planning on building more than 2,000 homes in the town -- brining the village's population close to 6,000 people.
Corporation CEO James Rea said they expect a huge demand for property close to Alberta's industrial heartland.
"It's a diamond in the rough, that's for sure," he said.
Triland says its goal is to create affordable housing in the $200,000 to $250,000 range for a three bedroom, two bath, detached home.
The developer has already spent $11 million acquiring more than 1,500 acres of land from local ranchers and farmers.
Former landowner Bronc Gales said he is anxious to see the changes in his hometown.
"We are looking forward to having an indoor arena, new store and a new gas station with diesel hopefully," he said.
Chipman is about 75 kilometres east of Edmonton.
With a report from CTV Edmonton's Rob McAnally
