Middle of Everywhere – Invest in the County of Grande Prairie

It's Good in the Middle*

Living and Working in the County of Grande Prairie

Growth and Economic Development Strategy

The County of Grande Prairie has approved the Growth and Economic Development Strategy. This strategy provides a road map for attracting new investment and ensuring long-term sustainable growth. The Growth and Economic Development Strategy will also provide a framework for how land in the County can be best utilized to create additional economic opportunities. For an overview of the Strategy please refer to the executive summary [PDF – 6.2 MB] or to view the full report, refer to the complete strategy [PDF – 42.2 MB].”

Welcome to the County

The County of Grande Prairie is ripe with economic potential. Strategically located in Alberta’s vibrant Peace Region, the County serves the commercial, industrial, and residential needs of Northwestern Alberta. The region’s strong economic generators contribute significantly to Alberta’s vibrant ‘open-for-business’ economy and success in the global marketplace.

As part of the larger Grande Prairie region, the County benefits from young, affluent demographics, high levels of service, and the coupled policies of no provincial sales tax and low municipal tax. When combined with world-class infrastructure, strong workforce availability, and ample opportunities for development, the County of Grande Prairie provides the ideal setting for growth.

Ability to Grow

The County of Grande Prairie is located in a resource-rich part of Alberta, Canada, and serves four key industry sectors: Commerce, Energy, Forestry, and Agriculture.

From serviced to non-serviced, rail and/or highway access, the County has the space for business development opportunities. A large selection of industrial and business parks, as well as heavy industrial areas, are available in various sizes. If you’re interested in learning more or arranging a site visit, the County of Grande Prairie’s Economic Development Office would be pleased to provide you with further information on one of the fastest-growing and vibrant economic regions in Canada.

Local Market Data

Get current data about our local market, including the business climate, industry trends, demographics, competition, land use, environment, workforce, and so much more.

Agriculture

The Peace Region is home to the northernmost agricultural industry in the world, and boasts a unique combination of northern climate, fertile soil, and a watershed fed by glacial runoff. The region has long been renowned for its crop production, from the vibrantly yellow fields of canola, award winning wheat, to the more unique Haskap berry orchards producing ice ciders and cold climate wines.

Commerce

Retail spending in Alberta rose significantly between May 2021 and May 2022 to $7.9 billion (an increase of 7.1%). The County of Grande Prairie is the central commercial hub for the Peace Region, with a total trade area of 290,000 residents within a 200km radius. As a strategic regional hub for retail, industrial trade, and commerce, Grande Prairie serves the County as a lucrative market for local and multinational retailers. This includes those that are not frequently located in similar-sized cities, including Costco, Walmart, and Best Buy.

Energy

As a central hub of Alberta and Northern B.C.’s traditional oil and gas industry, the County of Grande Prairie is set up to meet the needs of heavy industry and large-scale projects, including modern divided highways, rail access, flexible zoning bylaws, and robust telecommunications, even out in the field. The County and surrounding areas comprise a key regional service center and are home to many major oil and gas regional headquarters and oilfield service firms.

Forestry

The Peace Region is one of the top two Alberta regions for the production of forest products, first for employment in the forestry sector, and is the leading producer of pulp, paper and panelboard. Two major Forestry Management Agreements within the Peace Region cover nearly two million hectares of land, with over 1.3 million hectares of harvesting land, and are held by Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd and Canadian Forest Products Ltd (Canfor).