Agrifood, advanced manufacturing, transportation and logistics are all priority sectors for the City of Lethbridge.
They’re also part of an updated Economic Development Strategy, approved by Lethbridge City Council on Tuesday, which outlines a targeted approach to building a resilient, inclusive and opportunity-rich local economy.
The City developed the strategy through detailed market research, targeted stakeholder engagement, analysis of several important community and business surveys, and ensuring alignment with Council’s recently approved 2026-2029 Strategic Plan.
Council also considered existing reports produced by Economic Development Lethbridge, Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce, Tourism Lethbridge, and others to identify gaps and focus areas, followed by an economic baseline analysis of local labour markets, industries, macroeconomic trends, infrastructure and transportation.
Some of the key findings in the Economic Development Strategy are:
- Lethbridge already functions as an export-oriented regional economy
- Growth momentum is evident
- Lethbridge benefits from strong growth in service sector businesses
The project team conducted targeted stakeholder interviews with 51 individuals representing 43 different organizations across a variety of organizational types.
Council also approved updates to the City’s Business Development, Expansion, and Retention grant program.
The program was initially approved in May 2025, and focused on supporting investments in key sectors, such as trade and logistics, agri-business, manufacturing, and alternative and renewable energy.
The changes to the policy reduce the minimum financial investment requirements for expansion projects, benefiting businesses already invested in the City and contributing to a shared economic resiliency, while also prioritizing job growth.
