The Town of The Pas, Opaskwayak Cree Nation and The RM of Kelsey have become finalists in The Smart Cities Challenge along with 20 other communities across Canada. The Smart Cities Challenge was put on by Infrastructure Canada and communities that apply for the challenge are eligible to win cash money to go towards projects that would benefit community residents.

If they win the Tri Area will put the prize money towards developing the LED smart farm for OCN which would allow the growth of local produce and promote food security for the entire area.

The winners of the smart cities challenge will be announced in the spring of 2019 and the Tri Area could be awarded with a 10 Million dollar grant.

As a finalist the tri area has already been awarded with a $250,000 grant to develop a proposal and business plan for the LED Smart Farm.