The first business incubator approved under the Alberta Entrepreneurship Incubator Program will be located in Medicine Hat, Premier Rachel Notley announced Friday.

The new Apex incubator will receive $350,000 in provincial funding over two years to foster new and early-stage innovative companies, the premier said while visiting the southeastern Alberta city.

"The Apex incubator will work with entrepreneurs from all walks of life, specifically targeting professionals who became unemployed, and recent graduates who cannot find jobs because of the economic downturn," Notley said.

"It will tap into Medicine Hat's and southeastern Alberta's entrepreneurial capacity."

The Medicine Hat incubator is the first of several planned across the province in the Alberta Entrepreneurship Incubator Program, a $10-million, two-year pilot being delivered through Alberta Innovates, a Crown corporation that promotes innovation and research.

The incubators are part of the provincial NDP's Alberta Jobs Plan, which also includes tax credits, training programs, and funding to help firms access new international markets.

Notley says the incubator — which will have branches at Medicine Hat College and at the non-profit Community Futures Entre-Corp centre in the city's downtown — will be able to start helping people within six weeks.

"The Apex incubator will quickly assess new business ideas and bring those with potential into the development program," she said.

"This will help good ideas get the backing needed to become good, money-making business opportunities."

Notley's 1st trip as premier

Rachel Notley's visit to the southeastern Alberta city on Friday was her first since becoming premier — a fact that had not gone unnoticed.

Earlier this month, Mayor Ted Clugston criticized Notley for not visiting his city, suggesting the community feels disconnected from the provincial discourse.

Notley responded to the criticism Friday, noting that she was all set to visit last year, but the Fort McMurray wildfire scuttled the plan.

She also said at least one provincial cabinet minister visits Medicine Hat, on average, once per month.