EDMONTON - Alberta has set up a new grant program for communities looking to boost business as the province moves away from coal.

The Coal Community Transition Fund is open to municipalities and First Nations affected as Alberta phases out coal-fired electricity by 2030 to focus on renewables and natural gas.

Economic Development Minister Deron Bilous says the government wants to ensure these communities thrive through the transition.

The coal-mining town of Hanna, northeast of Calgary, has already received $450,000 through the program to work on economic diversification.

The application deadline for the coal transition fund is the end of November.

A provincial advisory panel is also expected to report back this fall on ways to create new jobs and retrain workers during the coal phase-out.