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 – 65.2 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.
Download Our Industry Brochures
Download our brochures to find out more about our thriving commercial, forestry, agriculture, and energy industries. VIEW ALL BROCHURES
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.
Local Market DataLocal 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.
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).
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
The County is the central commercial hub for the Peace Region, with a total trade area to 290,000 residents within a 200km radius. The County’s median annual income is $133,955, a figure higher than both the national and provincial averages and 35% of residents earn over $125,000 per year.
As a strategic regional hub for retail, industrial trade and commerce, Grande Prairie is a lucritive market for local and multi-national retailers that do not frequently locate in similar-sized cities, including Costco, Walmart and Best Buy.
Strengths
Growing Leaders
The annual Growing the North conference, held in the County of Grande Prairie, attracts some of the world’s brightest business and innovation leaders to join prominent local experts to speak and share their knowledge.
Innovating Minds
Nourish new ideas at Grande Prairie’s Centre for Research and Innovation at Northwestern Polytechnic. Offering a number of services to support R&D in the region, including accessible patent help and technology commercialization services, protect your ideas as entrepreneurs and businesses.
Entrepreneurial Capital
In 2020, the County of Grande Prairie was ranked No. 1 in the Western Investor’s annual list of the top five destinations for real estate investors.
Welcoming Small Businesses
In 2011, Grande Prairie was named the best community for small businesses in the province by Alberta Venture Magazine, in part thanks to the relatively low cost of retail space ($16 per sq. ft.). Surprisingly, the entrepreneurial spirit is measured at 12.81% of the city’s employed residents working as their own boss.
Thriving Chamber
The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce is the second largest chamber of commerce in Alberta, despite Grande Prairie being the seventh-largest city. With over 1300 members, the Chamber hosts dozens of networking events each year and works hand-in-hand with various levels of government to keep business thriving in the region.
Major Employers
Each of the region’s largest industries accounts for 12-13% of total employment: forestry, oil and gas, retail trade, and construction. The fastest-growing of these industries, between 2006 and 2010, was construction. The region is the province’s largest producer of natural gas and conventional crude oil.
County Scenes
Photo by Bob Marshall
Photo by Wendy Kempert
Clairmont
Clairmont Heights Project
Clairmont Heights Project
Clairmont Heights Project
Clairmont
Clairmont
Currie Dinosaur Museum
Photo by David Sandboe
Grande Prairie Regional Hospital
Photo by Geraldine Mayer
Forestry Industry
Photo by Dave Peters
Sportsplex
Photo by Lloyd Dykstra
Photo by Katalin Ormay
Photo by Janice Kretzer Prysunka
Photo by Katalin Ormay
Energy Industry
Economic Development Team
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Christopher King, Ec.D.
Economic Development Manager
About Christopher King, Ec.D.
A dedicated Economic Development Professional, I am passionate about Community Economic Development. My objective is to use the strengths derived from my diverse background to help improve quality of life for my community through the work I do with businesses from new investment, expansion and growth.
As Economic Development officer for the County of Grande Prairie, I can be your first point of contact for exploring opportunity in the region. I am dedicated to promoting development and the growth of businesses within the County of Grande Prairie, focusing on Investment Attraction, Business Retention and Expansion, and Tourism. Currently the County is looking to expand our residential development into medium and high density developments as well as commercial development. We are looking for projects that combine both high density condos and commercial development. There is the possibility of a new mall development as well. If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch.
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Hetti Huls
Economic Development Officer
About Hetti Huls
Growing up in the Grande Prairie region I have observed an abundance of growth through the years. My goal is to help improve the quality of life for my community, through business investment and attraction, business development, and tourism.
As an Economic Development Coordinator for the County of Grande Prairie, I will be working closely with the team to ensure that up to date information is available for various opportunities. I am enthusiastic about developing and promoting the County of Grande Prairie, for sustainable growth for the well-being of the region. We are looking for expansion in our residential and commercial development.
If you would like to learn more about the various opportunities for you within the “Middle of Everywhere” please contact us.
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Ainsley Miller
Economic Development Officer and Investment Attraction Specialist
About Ainsley Miller
As a seasoned world traveler, Ainsley Miller has made the choice to call The County of Grande Prairie her home thanks to its abundant opportunities to work, volunteer and raise her family. Ainsley offers a unique passion for the North and for tourism in her role as Economic Development Officer and Investment Attraction Specialist, feeling personally invested in The County of Grande Prairie’s success. She recognizes that successful economic development involves long term planning, goal-setting and forming lasting relationships.
With a 50-year Growth and Economic Development Strategy in hand, Ainsley and her colleagues recognize and attract major players and investors to The County’s versatile economy, its diverse natural resource sectors (agriculture, forestry and energy), its interconnected local business network and its existing high quality of life for residents.
For Ainsley, sustainable, prosperous and safe communities provide people with opportunities to discover the life that they want to live, through their choice of work, education or leisure activities.
The County of Grande Prairie Retail Market Analysis Summary
The County of Grande Prairie commissioned Cushing Terrell Architecture Inc. December 2014 to conduct a Retail Market Analysis for the County’s retail sector. Download the PDF for more details about the commercial opportunities in the County of Grande Prairie.
Ready to Learn More?
Questions? Want to learn more?
Contact us using the form below to arrange a customized information package about our exciting and vibrant region. Or, call the County of Grande Prairie’s Economic Development Officer Chris King directly at 780-532-9722
County of Grande Prairie
10001 - 84 AvenueClairmont, AB
T0H 0W0
Office Hours
Monday to Friday8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. CLOSED