Clearwater County

What Clearwater County does

Clearwater County is a rural municipal government in west-central Alberta, Canada, operating under the province's Municipal Government Act across 18,691 km² that includes the Town of Rocky Mountain House, the Village of Caroline, the Summer Village of Burnstick Lake, and hamlets such as Nordegg, Leslieville, Condor, Alhambra, and Withrow. It delivers the full suite of statutory municipal services to roughly 5,200+ rural households and surrounding agricultural and small-business ratepayers, organized into Agriculture & Environmental Services, Emergency Services (including the multi-jurisdictional Clearwater Regional Fire Rescue Services), Public Works, Planning & Development, Community Services, and Corporate Services. Approximately 85% of the county sits within the Rocky Mountain House Forest Protection Area, making wildfire response, pest management (Mountain Pine Beetle populations are down 98% since 2019), and forest stewardship material operational priorities.

The county operates a digital service platform consisting of a public website, iOS and Android mobile apps, an e-service request portal, a real-time Road Ban Status System, a Fire Rating information page, the County Highlights quarterly newsletter distributed to 5,200+ households, and the "Doing Business in Clearwater County" podcast. Its principal infrastructure asset is the Open Access Network — a 360-kilometer fiber-optic backbone with wireless towers, three of six construction phases complete, operated by Rigstar to deliver high-speed internet across rural Alberta. Sub-brands include the Open Access Network, Clearwater Regional Fire Rescue Services, and the Clearwater Trails Initiative.

Revenue is generated primarily through property taxation on residential, agricultural, and non-residential properties (with a Small Business Property Assessment Sub-Class offering up to 25% tax savings for qualifying businesses under 50 employees), supplemented by user fees such as $20 tax certificates, $5 conifer seedling bundles (minimum five bundles), $800 per section of roadside cleaned, bulk water and septage station charges, and provincial grants. Distribution is direct: in-person at the Rocky Mountain County office, online via self-serve portals, and through transfer stations, libraries, and recreation facilities. The entity has no parent company, no subsidiaries, no funding rounds, and is governed by an elected Council with day-to-day operations led by Chief Administrative Officer Rick Emmons.

Name

Clearwater County

Legal name

Clearwater County

Website

https://clearwatercounty.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Clearwater County is a rural Alberta municipal government serving 5,200+ households across 18,691 km², delivering fire, emergency, public works, planning, agricultural, and community services alongside a 360 km Open Access fiber broadband network and digital service platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Local Government / Municipal Services

NAICS

Utilities (221), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Electric, Gas & Sanitary Services (4900), Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Public Works & Municipal Infrastructure (Streets, Stormwater, Facilities) (BPAIACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Roadway Drainage & Stormwater Works (Culverts, Ditches, Catch Basins) (IMAFAEAG), Stormwater Collection & Conveyance (Inlets, Catch Basins, Pipes, Channels) (EUANAEAA), Wetland, Riparian & Buffer Services (within forest landscapes) (AFAMAMAI), Lot Clearing, Land Clearing & Brush Removal (HSAIADAH)

Keywords

• Municipal government services
• Emergency response services
• Rural broadband infrastructure
• Agricultural services programs
• Public works services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rocky Mountain House

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Property Tax Revenue: Primary revenue source for the municipality, collected from residential, agricultural, and non-residential properties within Clearwater County boundaries. Property tax rates include a reduced rate for qualifying small business properties under the Small Business Property Assessment Sub-Class program.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Clearwater County is a rural municipal government providing local government services to residents, businesses, and visitors across an 18,691 km² area in west-central Alberta. It delivers emergency services (fire rescue, 911 dispatch, emergency management), public works (roads, bridges, utilities, waste management), planning and development, agricultural services through the Agricultural Service Board, family and community social services, recreation programs, and a Rural Broadband Project that includes a 360-kilometre open-access fiber-optic backbone.

Product overview

Clearwater County operates a unified municipal government services portal offering residents access to county services, programs, and information. The primary products include the County Services Portal (providing access to agriculture, emergency, community, corporate, public works, and planning services), the Broadband/Open Access Network (fiber-optic infrastructure initiative), the County Highlights Newsletter (quarterly publication to 5,200+ households), Clearwater County Podcasts (audio content series), a Mobile App (iOS/Android), an E-Service Request System for online form submissions, a Road Ban Status System, and Fire Rating information. The county also maintains official social media channels for communications and emergency alerts. All services are provided to residents of Clearwater County, Alberta, Canada.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Clearwater County Open Access Network: Broadband fiber-optic network project providing high-speed internet to rural Alberta communities.
• Clearwater Regional Fire Rescue Services
• Clearwater Trails Initiative
• Doing Business in Clearwater County
• County Highlights Newsletter

Products and services

• Rural Broadband / Open Access Network Project

Quantifiable outcome

• Clearwater County's Open Access Network broadband project has completed three out of six phases, delivering high-speed internet across the county's 360-kilometer fiber-optic core backbone.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• West FraserminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Fraser partners with Clearwater County's Tree Seedling Program, providing white spruce or lodgepole pine seedlings at subsidized rates for county landowners to establish shelterbelts or rejuvenate wooded areas.
• Alberta Animal ServicescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRed Deer-based Alberta Animal Services is contracted to provide Dog Control services within Clearwater County borders, enforcing the county's Dog Control Bylaw through a progressive compliance approach.
• Parkland Regional Library SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClearwater County is served by Parkland Regional Library system, a cooperative network of 50 public and 48 school libraries serving 198,696 Central Alberta residents. County provides annual funding to support local library branches in Caroline, Rocky Mountain House, and Nordegg.
• RigstarcoreTechnology or IntegrationRigstar is the Network Operator for Clearwater County's Open Access Network (broadband optic fiber project). With three of six project phases completed, Rigstar manages the 360-kilometer fiber-optic cable backbone and wireless towers for high-speed internet delivery.
• Friends of the Eastern SlopesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFriends of the Eastern Slopes is a non-profit organization that has taken over management of over a dozen Provincial Recreation Areas (PRAs) or campgrounds from Alberta Parks, most within Clearwater County, managing campgrounds in the David Thompson Country Tourism Region.
• Rocky Mountain House LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Rocky Mountain House Public Library hosts a showcase cinema program in partnership with Rocky Cinemas, running eight movies per year, and also houses a gallery space hosting a different Canadian artist each month.
• Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) - Town of Rocky Mountain HousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerClearwater Regional FCSS is a partnership between Clearwater County and the Town of Rocky Mountain House, delivering social programs that are preventive in nature to promote well-being among individuals, families, and communities.
• Rocky Mountain House Search and Rescue (Rocky SAR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRocky Mountain House Search and Rescue is a volunteer organization that serves residents and visitors of Clearwater County as a Partner Agency under Emergency Services.
• RCMP and EMScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRoyal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are listed as Partner Agencies under Clearwater County Emergency Services, working alongside Community Peace Officers and Fire Services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Red Deer County: Adjacent central Alberta rural county providing the full suite of municipal services to a mixed agricultural-residential population; closely comparable in service delivery model, though somewhat larger and more economically diversified than Clearwater County.
• Brazeau County: Central Alberta rural municipality of similar size and demographic profile, providing the same core municipal services (public works, planning, agriculture, fire, community services) to a small rural population across a large geographic area.
• Parkland County: Central Alberta rural municipality offering comparable services including roads, waste management, fire, and agriculture support; positioned near the Edmonton region with similar municipal governance structure to Clearwater County.
• Mountain View County: Rural Alberta county delivering municipal services to agricultural and rural residential populations in central Alberta; directly comparable in service mix, tax structure, and customer segments to Clearwater County.
• Wetaskiwin County No. 10: Rural Alberta county operating under the same Municipal Government Act, delivering public works, agricultural services, planning, and emergency services to a small rural population - directly comparable scale and service mix to Clearwater County.
• Yellowhead County: Adjacent rural Alberta county of comparable scale and service portfolio, providing municipal services including roads, utilities, agriculture support, and emergency services to a similarly dispersed rural population - the most directly comparable peer for Clearwater County.
• Lacombe County: Central Alberta rural municipality operating under the same Municipal Government Act framework as Clearwater County, offering public works, agricultural services, planning and development, and emergency services to a similar rural ratepayer base.
• Municipal District of Bighorn No. 8: Rural Alberta municipal district adjacent to the Rockies with significant forested area, providing comparable municipal services to a sparse population across mountainous terrain - structurally similar to Clearwater County's challenges.

Regional players

• Village of Caroline: Small village within Clearwater County that contracts fire services from Clearwater Regional Fire Rescue Services; comparable in governance structure and intermunicipal collaboration model, though smaller in operational scale.
• Town of Rocky Mountain House: Town located within Clearwater County that shares the Clearwater Regional Fire Rescue Services and FCSS partnerships; while a smaller urban entity, it is closely coupled to the county through shared service delivery and intermunicipal collaboration.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/clearwatercnty
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/ClearwaterCounty
• Facebookfacebook.com/clearwatercnty
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/clearwater-county-alberta
• Instagraminstagram.com/clearwatercnty

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Clearwater County