The Cochrane and Area Health Foundation has completed the first of a three-step approval process with Alberta Health Services (AHS).

Chair Brian Winter says last week they received the green light to take the next step. Their application will now be reviewed by AHS administrator Dr. John Cowell before reaching the desk of Alberta Health minister Jason Copping.

About two weeks ago, Winter and vice-chair Dennis Fundytus hand-delivered their application package to Alberta Health Services officials.

"We said, can you get this done before the rite is dropped?" explains Winter. "So they have all this month to try and get approval so we can get our application into Revenue Canada to get our charitable number."

Besides the bylaw, the detailed package includes information on their nine trustees and letters of support from Airdrie-Cochrane MLA Peter Guthrie and Mayor Jeff Genung.

Generally speaking, the purpose of the foundation is to support health care services in the community with a long-term goal of improving after-hour services.