Commerce Profile

County of Grande Prairie Economic DevelopmentEconomic Development Overview

COMMERCE PROFILE

1 to Alaska, to Yellowknife, North West Territories Yukon

County of Grande Prairie Fort Nelson

Hay - Zama Lakes Wildland Thriving Market Hub. Dune Za Keyin Provincial Park to Alaska, and Protected Area Fort Nelson Mt Edziza Yukon Provincial Park and Recreation Rainbow Lake Hay - Zama High Level Area Lakes Wildland

Northern Rocky Spatsizi Plateau Mountains Wilderness Provincial Park Rainbow Lake Provincial Park

Wood Bu alo National Park 260,000 82,365High Level $3.5B Estimated Total Trade Total Population within Total trade area retail Area Population within the County of Grande spending in 2013* * † Wood Bu alo Young, Auent Demographics. 200 km (124 mi) Prairie (2011) National Park Chinchaga Wildland

Manning Chinchaga Wildland

year, the Alberta Mackenzie Grimshaw Dawson Creek average is 27%* High Prairie Terrace Slave Lake Valleyview Prince Rupert High Prairie Grande Prairie Slave Lake Valleyview

Swan Hills County Boundary Kakwa Provincial Park and Fox Creek Protected Area Kakwa Wildland 13.5% 30.3 Grande Prairie Lac Lakelandla Biche Whitecourt Provincial Swan Hills Athabasca Kakwa Provincial County of Grande City of Grande Prairie Park Prince George Grande Cache Park and Fox Creek Protected Area Kakwa Wildland † Tweedsmuir North Willmore Prairie population Median Age Provicial Park and Lac la Biche Wilderness † Barrhead Cold Lake Protected Area Whitecourt Athabasca Park growth over ve years Westlock Grande Cache Bonnyville Westlock Willmore Wilderness Barrhead Cold Lake Rock Lake Park Soloman Creek Wildland Saint Paul Tweedsmuir South Bonnyville Jasper Hinton Edson Provincial Park Quesnel Edmonton Rock Lake ProvincialMt Robson Park Ft. Saskatchewan Soloman JasperCreek Wildland Hinton Edson Saint Paul

ProvincialMt Robson Park Ft. Saskatchewan Vegreville

Jasper Vermillion National Park Wells Gray Vegreville Provincial Park Edmonton Lloydminster William’s Lake Jasper Vermillion National Park Wells Gray 5.9% Provincial Park Room to Grow. National average** 100 Mile House Red Deer North Battleford

Ban National Park Red Deer

Ban Kamloops National Park Banff Kamloops Banff 3,900+ Acres of Available Land Calgary Saskatoon in the County† Veronon Vancouver Calgary Veronon

Kelowna Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Victoria Kelowna Purcell Wilderness Provincial Conservancy Park Provincial Penticton Park

Cranbrook Cranbrook Lethbridge Medicine Hat Swift Current Lethbridge Medicine Hat WashingtonUSA

* See endnotes on page 30. ** See endnotes on page 30. † See endnotes on page 30.

Note: Map features are for illustration purposes only. Exact routes and scales will vary. to Alaska, to Yellowknife, North West Territories Yukon

Economic Development Overview Fort Nelson

Northern Rocky Spatsizi Plateau Mountains Wilderness Provincial Park Rainbow Lake Provincial Park

Manning Chinchaga Wildland

Fort St. John Manning Hudson’s 33% 36.8 Fort McMurray Hope Chetwynd HouseholdsFairview in the City Peace RiverCounty of Grande Fort St. John Dawson Creek of Grande PrairieGrimshaw that Prairie Median Age† Fort McMurray earn over $125,000 per Chetwynd Fairview Peace River year, the Alberta Mackenzie Grimshaw Dawson Creek average is 27%* High Prairie Terrace Slave Lake Valleyview Prince Rupert High Prairie Grande Prairie Slave Lake Valleyview

ProvincialMt Robson Park Ft. Saskatchewan Vegreville

Ban National Park Red Deer

Ban Kamloops National Park Banff Kamloops Banff 3,900+ Acres of Available Land Calgary Saskatoon in the County† Veronon Vancouver Calgary Veronon

Kelowna Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Victoria Kelowna Purcell Wilderness Provincial Conservancy Park Provincial Penticton Park

Cranbrook Cranbrook Lethbridge Medicine Hat Swift Current Lethbridge Medicine Hat WashingtonUSA

* See endnotes on page 30. ** See endnotes on page 30. † See endnotes on page 30.

Note: Map features are for illustration purposes only. Exact routes and scales will vary. 3 County of Grande Prairie

Welcome to the County of Grande Prairie

It’s Good in the Middle The County of Grande Prairie is strategically located to serve the industrial, commercial and residential needs of the people of Northwestern Alberta. This region’s strong economic generators contribute significantly to Alberta’s vibrant, ‘open for business’ economy and success in the global market place.

As part of the larger Grande Prairie region, we are able to benefit from regional strengths and policies such as no provincial sales tax and low municipal tax, and still maintain a high level of service. When combined with world class infrastructure, good workforce availability at competitive rates, and rapidly expanding opportunities for continuing growth, the County provides the ideal setting for investing in its future economic opportunities.

The County of Grande Prairie is located in a resource-rich part of Alberta and Canada and serves as a home to many industries including those involved in Agriculture, Energy, Forestry, Manufacturing, Commerce and Tourism.

A large selection of commercial development areas are available in various sizes and levels of service, from completely serviced to non-serviced, and can include rail and major highway access.

We thank you for the interest you have shown in the County of Grande Prairie and we would be pleased to provide you with any further information you may require regarding business development opportunities in one of the fastest growing regions in Canada.

www.middleofeverywhere.ca www.county.gp.ab.ca

4 Economic Development Overview Strength Overview Resource riches, an unmatched entrepreneurial spirit, innovative research, major industry-leading employers and a rapidly growing population help drive Grande Prairie’s thriving economic growth. 33% Households in the The City of Grande Prairie is the hub of growth in the region, with an City of Grande Prairie expected population increase averaging 2.5% in the next 10 years, that earn over * $125,000 per year nearly doubling the provincial average. The already-high average (the Alberta average household income is also expected to rise over 40% in the next decade, is 27%*) from $107,026 to $150,149.*

Within the city of Grande Prairie, consumer spending is highest in grocery and drug; coffee, café, and fast food; full-service restaurants; and professional and financial services.*

Baby boomers spend the most in nearly all retail categories within Grande Prairie, spending less only in entertainment, fitness and day spa, pet supplies and services, specialty retail, and sporting goods. The younger age cohorts (18-34 years, and 35-54 years) would like to see $3.5 billion * Total trade area retail more offerings to increase spending. spending in 2013* Retail spending in Alberta has risen significantly between 2013 and 2014, from just over $6 billion to over $6.4 billion (an increase of 6.5%). While some of this growth is due to inflation, higher wages and greater job opportunities have contributed to a notable rise in consumer confidence in the province.1 Opportunity Growth in both population and employment have been significant throughout Alberta, jumping 26.5% and 27.6% respectively, between Provincial 2003 and 2013 (both figures are more than double the national Sales Tax average).2

Alberta’s corporate income taxes are among the most competitive in North America at 25% (15% federal, and 10% provincial), and Alberta is the only province without a provincial sales tax (PST).3

* See page 30 for endnotes.

1 Mario Toneguzzi. “’Sizzling growth’ as Alberta retail sales hit record level”, Calgary Herald, May 22, 2014. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2014. http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Siz- zling+growth+Alberta+retail+sales+record+level/9866458/story.html

2 “Highlights of the Alberta Economy 2014”, Alberta Innovation and Advanced Education, July 2014. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2014. http://www.albertacanada.com/files/albertacanada/SP-EH_highlightsABEconomyPresentation.pdf

3 “Doing business in Alberta”, www.AlbertaCanada.com, July 28, 2014. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2014. http://www.albertacanada.com/business/overview/competitive-corporate-taxes.aspx 5 County of Grande Prairie

* Average Household Income Source: Environics Analytics 2013 & Cushing Terrell Architecture Inc. *See map on pages 10-11 for trade area references

40%

35% 34% 33% 32%

30% 29% 28% 27% 26% 26% < $50,000 25% 25% 23% 23% $50,000 - $79,999 21% 21% 21% 21% 20% 20% 20% 19% $80,000 - $99,000

14% 15% 14% 14% 13% 13% 13% 12% $100,000 - $124,999 12% 12% 11% 12% 11% 10% > $125,000

0% STA West STA North STA East PTA City of Alberta Grande Prairie

Trade Area Retail Spending By General Category Source: Environics Analytics 2013 & Cushing Terrell Architecture Inc.

$800 $733 $708 $700

$600

$484 12% $500 34% $400

22% $282 $300 $257 $260

$180 $200

$111 $102 $102 $79 $69 $65 $100 $42 $45 32% $24

$0 Grocery & Comparison Restaurants & Auto/RV/Motorsports Conveniences Merchandise Entertainment Parts and Sales

PTA and City of Grande Prairie Comparison Merchandise

STA West Grocery & Conveniences

STA North Auto/RV/Motorsports Parts and Sales

STA East Restaurants & Entertainment

6 Economic Development Overview

Access Location, Location, Location Located in the heart of Northern Alberta, the County’s infrastructure connects the region to Alberta’s major cities, the U.S. and beyond. There’s a growing population of skilled, young, and affluent workers, approachable government officials, and an entrepreneurial mindset that makes the region attractive for businesses of all kinds. Daily Flights As the largest city in Northern Alberta, Grande Prairie’s full-service shopping, restaurant and cultural offerings draw regular shoppers and visitors from as far away as B.C., the Yukon and Northwest

Territories. Edmonton While the City of Grande Prairie is experiencing growth in all Calgary directions, it currently encompasses 72.8 sq. km.4 It takes less than 15 minutes by car to cross the city from either north to south, or east to 7 west, making specialty retail stores and restaurants throughout the 9 city easily accessible to Grande Prairie residents.

4 “City of Grande Prairie Growth Study”, Lovatt Planning Consultants Inc., January 2008. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2014. https://www.cityofgp.com/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=8630.

“Grande Prairie’s full-service shopping, restaurant and cultural offerings draw visitors from B.C., the Yukon and Northwest Territories.”

7 County of Grande Prairie

Transportation & Infrastructure

Trade Corridors The County of Grande Prairie is an integral stop on the Canamex North-South Trade Corridor (NSTC), a 1,175 km (730 miles) network of multi-lane highways that connect local businesses to suppliers and markets in the U.S. and Mexico. The region is well serviced by a number of major trucking and courier companies, including Purolator, FedEx, UPS, Reilly Transfer and Canada Post.

Air Alberta’s fourth largest airport, the Grande Prairie Regional Airport, is located 6.5 km (four miles) west of the city centre, providing scheduled passenger service, cargo and charter flights throughout Western Canada. Just a 50 minute flight to the Edmonton International Airport, or a 90 minute flight to the Calgary International Airport, the region is well connected to areas beyond our doorstep. The major airlines servicing the Grande Prairie Regional Airport include Air Canada and WestJet, who moved over 400,000 people through in 2012. Rail

As part of the Canadian National Railway’s (CN) Great Plains District, Grande Prairie’s rail system links the region to the rest of Canada and beyond. CN operates in eight provinces and 16 states, and the network reaches 75% of the U.S. population.5

Market Population The County of Grande Prairie services approximately 260,000 people within a 250 km (155 mile) radius, and that number is growing. This budding population centre, and the city within it, serves as the Peace Region’s largest urbanized hub, with all modern amenities and services, and an ever-growing marketplace of ideas and products.

Workforce The expanding population provides the County of Grande Prairie with a young, educated and hard-working labour force and a constant stream of opportunities in the booming oil and gas, forestry, agriculture, and commercial industries.

Communication & Technology Through a variety of service providers, the County of Grande Prairie offers high-speed Internet access to over 80% of the County, and growing. Approximately 300 local towers were sponsored by the County to service outlying areas.

5 “Working Hard to Make a Difference” CN Rail Presentation to Growing the North Conference. 2013-02-20. Michael Cory, Sr. Vice President, CN Western Region.

8 Economic Development Overview

Canamex Trade Corridor

Fairbanks

County of St. John’s Grande Prairie

Edmonton Vancouver Red Deer Region Calgary Quebec City Halifax Montreal Winnipeg Ottawa

Toronto Minneapolis New York

Salt Lake City

Los Angeles Phoenix

Mexico City

9 to Alaska, to Alaska, to Yellowknife, North West Territories Yukon Yukon County of Grande Prairie

Dune Za Keyin Provincial Park and Protected Area Fort Nelson Mt Edziza Provincial Park and Recreation Hay - Zama Area Lakes Wildland

Northern Rocky Spatsizi Plateau Mountains Wilderness Provincial Park Provincial Park

Rainbow Lake High Level

Wood Bu alo STA STA National Park West North

Chinchaga Wildland

Fort St. John Manning

Hudson’s PTA Hope Fort McMurray Chetwynd Fairview Peace River Mackenzie Dawson Creek Grimshaw

Trade Area STA Terrace East Retail demand generated by inflow is estimated at 1.5 million High Prairie sq. ft within the city of Grande Prairie, Prince1.7 million sq. ft withinRupert The County the Primary Trade Area (PTA) (not including Grande Prairie), 265,000 sq. ft in the Secondary Trade Area – West (STA West), Valleyview Slave Lake 132,000 sq. ft in the Secondary Trade Area – North (STA North), and 78,000 sq. ft in the Secondary Trade Area – East (STA East).6 Grande Prairie The total demand in the region is 3.73 million sq. ft of retail, 7 which equates to residual demand in the range of 365,000 sq ft. Swan Hills Kakwa Provincial Prince George Park and Fox Creek Protected Area Kakwa Wildland The city of Grande Prairie boasts significant regional inflow with Tweedsmuir North Provicial Park and Lac Lakelandla Biche Protected Area Athabasca Provincial minimal outflow, making the region ripe for further commercial Grande Cache Whitecourt Park development. Willmore Wilderness Barrhead Cold Lake Park Westlock 6 “Working Hard to Make a Difference” CN Rail Presentation to Growing the North Tweedsmuir South Bonnyville Provincial Park Quesnel Conference. 2013-02-20. Michael Cory, Sr. Vice President, CN Western Region. Rock Lake Soloman 7 Ibid. Creek Wildland Hinton Edson Saint Paul

Provincial Park Ft. Saskatchewan Mt Robson

Jasper Vegreville Note: Map features are for illustration purposes only. Exact routes and scales will vary. William’s Lake Jasper Vermillion National Park Wells Gray Provincial Park Edmonton Lloydminster

100 Mile House

Red Deer North Battleford

Ban Kamloops National Park Banff Calgary Saskatoon Vancouver Veronon

Kelowna Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Penticton Park

Victoria Cranbrook Lethbridge Medicine Hat Swift Current Note: Map features are for illustration purposes only. Exact routes and scales will vary. Washington to Alaska, to Alaska, to Yellowknife, North West Territories Yukon Yukon Economic Development Overview

Dune Za Keyin Provincial Park and Protected Area Fort Nelson Mt Edziza Provincial Park and Recreation Hay - Zama Area Lakes Wildland

Northern Rocky Spatsizi Plateau Mountains Wilderness Provincial Park Provincial Park

Rainbow Lake High Level

Wood Bu alo STA STA National Park West North

Chinchaga Wildland

Fort St. John Manning

Hudson’s PTA Hope Fort McMurray Chetwynd Fairview Peace River Mackenzie Dawson Creek Grimshaw STA Terrace East Prince Rupert The County High Prairie

Valleyview Slave Lake Grande Prairie

Swan Hills Kakwa Provincial Prince George Park and Fox Creek Protected Area Kakwa Wildland Tweedsmuir North Provicial Park and Lac Lakelandla Biche Protected Area Athabasca Provincial Grande Cache Whitecourt Park

Willmore Wilderness Barrhead Cold Lake Park Westlock Tweedsmuir South Bonnyville Provincial Park Quesnel

Rock Lake Soloman Creek Wildland Hinton Edson Saint Paul

Provincial Park Ft. Saskatchewan Mt Robson

Jasper Vegreville

William’s Lake Jasper Vermillion National Park Wells Gray 11 Provincial Park Edmonton Lloydminster

100 Mile House

Red Deer North Battleford

Ban Kamloops National Park Banff Calgary Saskatoon Vancouver Veronon

Kelowna Purcell Wilderness Conservancy Provincial Penticton Park

Victoria Cranbrook Lethbridge Medicine Hat Swift Current Note: Map features are for illustration purposes only. Exact routes and scales will vary. Washington County of Grande Prairie

Photo by: Jennifer Zingre

Entrepreneurial Capital of Canada In 2012, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business ranked Grande Prairie as the number one entrepreneurial city in Canada for the third straight year. It beat out 103 cities across the nation and was awarded top scores in the criteria of business outlook and business owners per capita.8

A Small Business Hotbed The County of Grande Prairie is a key stakeholder in the Peace Region Economic Development Association (PREDA), a collective voice of 32 municipalities, colleges, economic development agencies, and businesses that share a common vision for northwest Alberta. 1200members www.peacecountrycanada.com

In 2011, Grande Prairie was named the best community for small business in the province by Alberta Venture Magazine, citing the the relatively low cost of retail space ($16 per sq. ft.) as well as an entrepreneurial spirit that equates to a surprising 12.81% of the city’s employed residents working as their own boss.9

$16 The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce is the second largest per sq. foot chamber of commerce in Alberta, despite Grande Prairie being only the seventh largest city. With nearly 1200 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. www.grandeprairiechamber.com

Organizations like Community Futures assist business owners in setting up and nurturing their businesses throughout the region. www.cfofgp.com

8 National Post Article. Retrieved 2014-01-13. http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/12/how-does-your-city-stack-up-in-the-entrepreneurial-ranks/

9 Alberta Venture Magazine - 25 Best Communities for Business in Western Canada. Retrieved 2014-01-13. http://albertaventure.com/2011/06/2011-best-communities-for-business/?community=Grande_Prairie

12 Economic Development Overview

Growth 260,000 people within 250 km A Story of Growth The County of Grande Prairie (internal pop. 82,000), established as Alberta’s first county in 1951, is a large rural county located in the Peace River Region of northwestern Alberta, approximately 460 km (286 mi.) from Edmonton and 160 km (100 mi.) from the Rocky Mountains. The County shares Alberta’s western border with British Columbia.

Located within the County boundaries is one of Canada’s fastest growing cities, three thriving towns, the Horse Lake First Nation reserve, one village, four hamlets, and numerous smaller communities. The entire region is rich in forestry, oil & gas, agriculture, and commerce. The 2011 Census District 19, where the County of Grande Prairie is located, was found to be Alberta’s fourth-fastest growth area at 11.1%.

The City of Grande Prairie (pop. 55,000) was named the Most Entrepreneurial City in Canada 2010 through 2012, and that business-friendly distinction is emblematic of the whole region.10

10 “Population and dwelling counts, for Canada and census subdivisions (municipalities) with 5,000-plus population, 2006 and 2001 censuses - 100% data”. Statistics Canada. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2012-10-28. http://www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-550/Index.cfm?TPL=P- 1C&Page=RETR&LANG=Eng&T=307&SR=1&S=5&O=A

County of Grande Prairie and City of Grande Prairie Comparative Population Growth 1991- 2011 75,000 70,000 65,000 60,000 55,000 City of Grande Prairie 50,000 County of Grande 45,000 Prairie No. 1 40,000 35,000 30,000 25,000 20,000 15,000 10,000 5,000 0 1991 1996 2001 2006 2011 City 28,271 31,140 36,995 47,107 55,032 County 12,314 13,537 15,638 17,929 20,347

County Information: Statistics Canada. 2013. Grande Prairie County No. 1, MD, Alberta (Code 4819006) (table). National Household Survey (NHS) Profile. 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 99-004-XWE. Ottawa. Released June 26, 2013. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E City Information Statistics Canada. 2013. Grande Prairie, CY, Alberta (Code 4819012) (table). National Household Survey (NHS) Profile. 2011 National Household Survey. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 99-004-XWE. Ottawa. Released September 11, 2013. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E National Information: Statistics Canada. 2013. Canada (Code 01) (table). National Household Survey (NHS) Profile. 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 99-004-XWE. Ottawa. Released June 26, 2013. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E Photo by: Max LaRochelle13 County of Grande Prairie

Proactive Development The region has prepared for anticipated expansion by proactively developing new facilities to accommodate immediate and future business and population growth. There are several new projects and facilities in various stages of development throughout the County’s jurisdiction.

Multi-Modal Logistics Centre The planned multi-modal logistics centre in Clairmont will host a rail-to-truck, “[it] will truck-to-rail service depot, which will become a major distribution centre for allow large the north, with the County of Grande Prairie as the hub. The centre will allow large volume, heavyweight material to be moved to the centre by rail and then volume, redistributed by truck. The rail component of the centre is extremely significant heavyweight in allowing the region to compete on a global level. material to Grande Prairie Regional Hospital be moved to Currently under construction, this new $620 million state-of-the-art hospital and cancer treatment facility will give patients in the north access to improved care the centre by options and wait times.

rail and then The facility, which is slated to be operational in 2017, will function as a redistributed regional referral centre, providing health services to northwestern Alberta residents. The existing Queen Elizabeth II Hospital will continue as a health care by truck. ” facility to be used to provide ambulatory, community and other health services. Alberta Health Services will operate on the two sites.

Sportsplex The County of Grande Prairie’s Sportsplex is open and ready for action. This state- of-the-art facility is owned by the County and managed by Nustadia Recreation Inc. Facilities include twin ice rinks, an indoor soccer pitch, a high tech running track, workout facility and retail amenities. The soccer pitch is one of the largest in Alberta. www.cgpsportsplex.com

Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum Set to open in September 2015, the Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum will be the number one educational tourism attraction in Northern Alberta. Once built, this 41,000 sq. ft. facility will host a world-class museum, research facility and community space, and the project is already opening up the palaeontological riches of the north. The County of Grande Prairie is the major sponsor of this state-of-the- art facility. www.curriemuseum.ca Economic Development Overview

The planned Multi-Modal Logistics Centre will connect rail distribution with truck infrastructure. Photo by: Adrian Clark

The new Grande Prairie Regional Hospital will open in 2017.

Grande Prairie Regional Hospital

The County of Grande Prairie Sportsplex offers residents ample recreation facilities. Photo by: Mike Reeves

15 The Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum will open in 2014. County of Grande Prairie

Major Retailers

Grande Prairie is home to a number of large retailers that do not frequently do business in similar-sized cities, like Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, PetSmart, Wal-Mart, Winners, and Costco.11 Independent businesses also make up a significant share of Grande Prairie’s retail sector. Grande Prairie tops the province in successful small businesses, which frequently grow at such a rapid pace that long commercial leases in the area have become uncommon.12

The Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce is the second-largest in the province, comprised of over 1,200 members, and representing more than 19,000 employees.13 In addition to the chamber, Community Futures is a non-profit organization which actively assists in the development and implementation of community-based development strategies. Primarily, the organization manages investment funds and offers fully repayable loans (to a maximum of $150,000) to residents who are interested in either starting or growing their own business. Community Futures also provides business counselling, business development programs, self-employment programs and entrepreneur training, and specialized programs for young entrepreneurs.14

11 “Community Lifestyle”, albertacommunityprofiles.com, 2014. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2014. https://albertacommunityprofiles.com/Profile/Grande_Prairie/8

12 David Husdal. “Industrial demand, annexation bid reveal explosive growth in Northern Alberta”, Western Investor, August 2013. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2014. http://www.westerninvestor.com/index.php/spotlight/ab/1353-grande-prairie

13 “Community Lifestyle”, albertacommunityprofiles.com, 2014. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2014. https://albertacommunityprofiles.com/Profile/Grande_Prairie/8

14 “Welcome to Community Futures Grande Prairie & Region”, www.cfoggp.com. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2014. http://www.cfofgp.com/about-us.asp

16 Economic Development Overview

Entrepreneurial Approach The County of Grande Prairie is committed to partnering with all levels of government and regional partners to foster new and existing business.

In October 2013, Grande Prairie was ranked 4th nationwide as one of Canada’s “Communities in Boom” by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. The report ranked Grande Prairie as #1 for “Grande Entrepreneurial Policy of any mid-size city in Canada, and this reflects Prairie was the open-for-business attitude of both City and County officials and policies. The ratings took into account local government tax balance and ranked 4th regulations, cost of local government, and local government sensitivity to local business. Grande Prairie received a rating of 33.5 out of 40, the nationwide highest score in the country.15 as one of Canada’s A Story of Demand ‘Communities The population of the City of Grande Prairie is expected to grow 2.5%, over 1% higher than the provincial average.* The total trade area in the Peace in Boom’” Region is on track to reach nearly 285,000 in the next 10 years.* A majority of respondents to a consumer survey stated that what they dislike most about shopping opportunities in Grande Prairie is a lack of store selection, indicating that the growing population would like to see more variety in the city’s businesses – especially in clothing and apparel, full-service food and beverage, and professional and financial services.* Residents in the larger Peace Region (excluding the city of Grande Prairie) indicated that 2.5% they would like to see more full-service restaurants in their communities.* Growth Estimate 1% higher than provincial average

15 Communities in Boom: Canada’s Top Entrepreneurial Cities; Canadian Federation of Independent Busi- ness. October 2013. Ted Mallett, Vice-President & Chief Economist, Simon Gaudreault, Economist. Retrieved 2014-01-13. http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/cfib-documents/rr3307.pdf

* See page 30 for endnotes.

17 County of Grande Prairie Alberta Young, A uent Demographics. Daily Flights

Peace Edmonton Calgary $91,233 260,000 36.8 Estimated Total Trade Region County of Grande County of Grande Area Population within 7 Prairie’s Median Prairie Median Age† 200 km (124 mi)* 10 Annual Income after 3.5 people/sq. km Tax

County of Grande Prairie

HWY 59 HWY 43 Valhalla Centre 721 La Glace 13.5% 674 Bu alo Lakes County of Grande Lynburn Teepee Creek Prairie population growth over ve years† Hythe 672 Sexsmith

Clairmont 723 724 HWY 733 2 Heights 671 Goodfare

HWY 43

Clairmont Bezanson Beaverlodge 670

HWY 43 City of Grande Prairie Huallen

Wembley HWY 40 722 Dimsdale

Halcourt Entrec Centre Wedgewood at Evergreen Park

The County Elmworth Wapiti Nordic The County of Grande Prairie is the largest Ski Club population center in the Peace River Region, a resource-rich area of northwestern Alberta Highways and Rail Lines Museum or Historical Site which covers 110,854 square kilometers, larger in size than South Korea. The region accounts for Primary or Secondary Highway Golf Course 17.3% of Alberta’s land mass, but only 3.5% of Alberta’s population.* Commercial Airports Ski Hill Bodies of Water Rodeo Grounds Parks and Protected Areas Camp Grounds Industrial Park Provincial Park or Wilderness Area

18 Note: Map features are for illustration purposes only. Exact routes and scales will vary. B.C. Alberta * Government of Alberta - AlbertaCanada.com website. Retrieved 2014-01-13. http://www.albertacanada.com/business/statistics/peace-country-region.aspx Economic Development Overview Alberta Young, A uent Demographics. Daily Flights

County of Grande Prairie

HWY 59 HWY 43 Valhalla Centre 721 La Glace 13.5% 674 Bu alo Lakes County of Grande Lynburn Teepee Creek Prairie population growth over ve years† Hythe 672 Sexsmith

Clairmont 723 724 HWY 733 2 Heights 671 Goodfare

HWY 43

Clairmont Bezanson Beaverlodge 670

HWY 43 City of Grande Prairie Huallen

Wembley HWY 40 722 Dimsdale

Halcourt Entrec Centre Wedgewood at Evergreen Park

Note: Map features are for illustration purposes only. Exact routes and scales will19 vary. B.C. Alberta * Government of Alberta - AlbertaCanada.com website. Retrieved 2014-01-13. http://www.albertacanada.com/business/statistics/peace-country-region.aspx County of Grande Prairie Capacity

The County of Grande Prairie is rich in space and 80%Access to infrastructure, offering ample room for commercial high-speeed Internet growth. With approximately 3.5 people per square kilometer (9 per sq mi.) the County of Grande Prairie 3.5 people/sq. km offers uncrowded, unspoiled scenery, and unlimited potential for commercial development.

The Peace Region is host to a total of 260,000 residents who spent a total of $2.8 billion in 2013.* The region’s primary trade area (including Grande Prairie) includes 150,000 residents, with an average household income of $102,000*, a figure higher than both the national and provincial averages ($74,540 and $94,460 respectively).16 $1.8 billion was spent on retail purchases within the primary trade region last year.*

The city of Grande Prairie is host to 3.5 million square feet of retail supply area. There are over 700 retail stores in the city, with an average size of more than 5,000 square feet. The retail categories expected to experience the most significant growth are in clothing and apparel, home improvement and gardening, and limited-service food and beverage. The two categories that are likely to experience a decline in the region are footwear, and books and multimedia – largely due to significant competition from online retailers.*

Space Available The County accounts for 5,863 square kilometers (3,643 miles) total space, allowing for a diverse range of industrial, Over 3.5

commercial and residential areas. The County of Grande million sq. ft 3,900+ Prairie’s 30 year Growth Management Plan is a commitment of retail supply area Acres of Available Land in the County to ensure that all future commercial development planning promotes business viability while maintaining quality of life and a sustainable environment. The plan currently identifies 3,950 acres (16 square kilometers or 10 square miles) of vacant land (both serviced and un-serviced) available for development both north and west of the City boundaries. * See page 30 for endnotes.

16 “Median total income, by family type, by province and territory”, Statistics Canada, July 23, 2014. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2014. http://www.statcan.gc.ca/tables-tableaux/sum-som/l01/cst01/famil108a-eng.htm Economic Development Overview

City of Grande Prairie Retail Inventory

Floorspace by Category: Source: Cushing Terrell Architecture Inc.

Grocery & Specialty Foods Alcohol & Tobacco Pharmacy Personal Services Clothing & Apparel Footwear Jewelry & Accessories Health & Beauty Home Electronics & Appliances Home Furnishings & Accessories Home Improvement & Gardening Books & Multi-Media Sporting Good & Outdoor Recreation Toys & Hobbies Specialty Retail Full Service Food & Beverage

Limited Service Food & Beverage Entertainment & Leisure Auto Parts & Accessories Auto/RV/Motorsports Dealership 50,000 150,000 550,000 250,000 450,000 350,000 100,000 300,000 400,000 500,000 600,000 200,000

21 County of Grande Prairie

Top Retail Categories in Demand By Shoppers: Source: Environics Analytics 2013 and Cushing Terrell

Clothing & Apparel 18 3

Full Service Food & Beverage 153

Entertainment & Leisure 88

Limited Service Food & Beverage 68

Sporting Goods & Outdoor Recreation 51

Personal Services 47

Home Furnishings & Accessories 45

Toys & Hobbies 41

Books & Multi-Media 31

Footwear 17

Health & Beauty 14

Auto Parts, Services & Accessories 13

Jewelry & Accessories 12

Grocery & Specialty Foods 10

Specialty Retail 9

Home Electronics & Appliances 6

Home Improvement & Gardening 2

Alcohol & Tobacco 0

Pharmacy 0

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200

22 Economic Development Overview Attractions

The County of Grande Prairie offers all of the amenities available in any other major urban center, including vibrant arts and culture, modern healthcare facilities, community services, multiple K-12 schools, post-secondary education, sports and recreation facilities, restaurants and shopping. Events like the Grande Prairie Stompede, Reel Shorts Film Festival, Teepee Creek Rodeo, Swan Festival, Street Performers Festival, and annual Christmas Festival of Trees, all help make the region a year-round cultural hub.

Recreation The County of Grande Prairie is surrounded by outdoor adventure opportunities including:

• 15 golf courses • Eight County parks • Regional access to 30 campgrounds • Hiking, fishing and hunting • Access to the Rockies and Alaska Highway • Local Provincial Parks: O’Brien and Saskatoon Island • Popular motorsports trails: snowmobiling, quadding, motocross, etc.

Major Events The region offers year-round cultural and community events and facilities including:

• Swan Festival • Rio Grande Rodeo • Teepee Creek Stampede • Kleskun Hill Days • Grande Prairie Stompede • Country Gospel Jamboree • Grande Prairie River Rats River Boat Race • Farmer’s Market Harvest Fest • Horse Racing • Reel Shorts Film Festival • Street Performer’s Festival

23 County of Grande Prairie

Photo by: Klaus Peters

Culture The Centre for the Creative Arts celebrates the area’s cultural identity by raising awareness of local talent, while the Art Gallery of Grande Prairie boasts the largest collection of art in the Peace Region. Located in the Montrose Cultural Centre, the Art Gallery shares this special building with the City’s Public Library.

The soon to be built Philip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum will be a world-class education, tourism, and research facility, offering major tourism potential and field trip options for regional students. Grande Prairie Live Theatre has been serving up local community theatre for five decades, while the Showcase Centre and various other groups offer dinner theatre and other entertainments. A wealth of non-profit groups, clubs, dance and yoga studios, music venues, and other arts organizations round out the cultural scene.

Education The Grande Prairie area’s robust education system features multiple school boards serving the County, City, and Catholic school systems, including several elementary, junior high, and high schools, and modern bussing options.

Grande Prairie Regional College, located in the city, offers a variety of degree programs, trades, diplomas, and certificates, and enrolls nearly 3,000 students annually. 24 Economic Development Overview Opportunity The Grande Prairie region benefits from below national average household taxes and unique business tax deductions. There are also opportunities for government grants, funding and ongoing business support from organizations like the Grande Prairie and District Chamber of Commerce.

Young, Affluent Demographics Grande Prairie has a young demographic with the average age for County residents at 36.8 years old, and 30.3 years old for the City. The region routinely performs above the provincial and national averages for household income. The County of Grande Prairie’s median annual income after tax is $91,233, while the City of Grande Prairie’s is $84,421 compared to the Alberta average of $80,271, and the Canadian average, $67,044.17

Tax Advantages Municipal tax rates in the Grande Prairie Region are highly competitive with other regions of Alberta and the U.S. Taxpayers in the region are also eligible to receive a tax refund under Zone B of the Northern Residents Deduction.

Alberta businesses enjoy some of the lowest tax rates in the country, including no provincial employee or employer payroll taxes, no provincial sales tax, and low personal income taxes with high personal exemption. Opportunity Alberta was ranked #1 by the Canadian Federation of Independent 2013 Small Business on their Small Business Provincial Tax Index in 2013, a position held since the last study of its kind in 2009.18 #1 Business Albertans enjoy the lowest personal taxes in Canada, including the Tax Index highest basic and spousal exemptions in the country, the lowest by the Canadian Federation of Independant Businesses gasoline tax rate among the provinces and low property taxes.19

Alberta’s business tax advantage also results from our low gasoline tax, low corporate income tax rates, no capital tax and no payroll tax.

While all Canadians pay a general sales tax (GST) on purchases, Alberta is the only province with no provincial sales tax (PST). Residents in every other province pay up to 10 per cent on top of the five per cent GST.20

17 Statisitics Canada. Retrieved 2014-01-13. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/fogs-spg/Pages/FOG.cfm?lang=E&level=4&GeoCode=4819006 http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/as-sa/fogs-spg/Pages/FOG.cfm?lang=E&level=4&GeoCode=4819012

18 Ranking Provincial Tax Systems in Canada: CFIB’s 2013 Small Business Provincial Tax Index; Marvin Cruz, Research Analyst, Renée Anne Nat, Public Policy and Entrepreneurship Intern. Retrieved 2014-01-13. http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/cfib-documents/rr3308.pdf

19 Government of Alberta - Alberta Finance website. Retrieved 2014-01-13. http://www.finance.alberta.ca/publications/tax_rebates/index.html

20 Government of Alberta - AlbertaCanada.com website. Retrieved 2014-01-13. http://www.albertacanada.com/immigration/choosing/economic-taxes.aspx 25 County of Grande Prairie

Manufacturing Natural and Applied and Utilities Sciences and Related Natural Resources, Agriculture and Related Production Management

Total Labour Trades, Transport, Equipment Operators Force Population Business, Finance and Related and Administration (Ages 15+): 46,380 Art, Culture, Recreation and Sport

Education, Law, Social, Community and Sales and Service Government Services Healthcare

Combined City of Grande Prairie and County of Grande Prairie No. 1 Occupations Held by Ages 15+ Who are in the Labour Force*

*County Information: Statistics Canada. 2013. Grande Prairie County No. 1, MD, Alberta (Code 4819006) (table). National Household Survey (NHS) Proﬁle. 2011 Census. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 99-004-XWE. Ottawa. Released June 26, 2013. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E City Information Statistics Canada. 2013. Grande Prairie, CY, Alberta (Code 4819012) (table). National Household Survey (NHS) Proﬁle. 2011 National Household Survey. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 99-004-XWE. Ottawa. Released September 11, 2013. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm?Lang=E

Thriving Businesses In 2012, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business named Grande Prairie the most entrepreneurial city in Canada, based upon high levels of business ownership, upbeat business climates and positive local government policy.21

Grande Prairie received high scores in both business outlook and number of business owners per capita – the latter figure beating out all other Canadian cities.22 According to the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) Business Barometer, confidence among entrepreneurs in Alberta is at the highest it has ever been, reaching 72.6 on a scale from 0 to 100.23

There are a number of new retail developments throughout the city of Grande Prairie, offering diverse retail space for new tenants of all sizes.*

21 “Communities in Boom: Canada’s Top Entrepreneurial Cities”, www.cfib-fcei.ca, October 2012. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2014. http://www.cfib-fcei.ca/cfib-documents/rr3274.pdf

22 “Grande Prairie Most Entrepreneurial City Again”, www.cityofgp.com, October 15, 2012. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2014. http://www.cityofgp.com/index.aspx?page=33&recordid=1196

23 Mario Toneguzzi. “Alberta Small Business Confidence Remains High”, Calgary Herald, June 26, 2014. Retrieved Aug. 4, 2014. http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Alberta+small+business+confidence+remains+high/9976537/story.html

* See page 30 for endnotes. 26 Economic Development Overview More Statistics

Age Pyramid of Population Comparative Income Chart

85 years and older 140,000 14.00%

80-84 years 120,000 12.00% 75-79 years

70-74 years 100,000 10.00%

65-69 years 80,000 8.00% 60-64 years

55-59 years 60,000 6.00% 50-54 years

45-49 years 40,000 4.00%

40-44 years 20,000 2.00% 35-39 years

30-34 years 0 0.00%

25-29 years Canada

20-24 years Alberta Red Deer Red St. John’s St. Lethbridge Fredericton

15-19 years Breton Cape Fort St. John St. Fort Medicine Hat Medicine Prince George Prince Grande Prairie Grande 10-14 years Charlottetown

5-9 years Household Income 0-4 years Household Discretionary Income 2.0% 6.0% 4.0% 2.0% 6.0% 8.0% 4.0% 8.0% 0.0% 2 Bedroom Rental (% of income) 10.0% 10.0%

Alberta Peace Country

Number of Establishments by Employee Size in 2010 All

Peace Country Alberta

3.4% 4.4% 6.5% 7.1%

1-4 Employees 1-4 Employees 10.8% 5-9 Employees 11.5% 5-9 Employees 10-19 Employees 10-19 Employees 17.9% 61.5% 58.7% 20-49 Employees 18.3% 20-49 Employees

50+ Employees 50+ Employees

27 County of Grande Prairie

RoomVisit middleofeverywhere.ca to download more industry profiles. to Grow.

28 Economic Development Overview

Room toClairmont is only minutesGrow. from downtown Grande Prairie, with ample residential, industrial, and commercial space.

Interested in Chris King Economic Development Officer knowing more? County of Grande Prairie

Contact the County of Grande Prairie Phone: 780-513-3956 Economic Development Office. Email: [email protected]

29 County of Grande Prairie

Endnotes

*Source: “Retail Market & Gap Analysis”, www.cityofgp.com, March 2014. Retrieved Aug. 3, 2014. www.cityofgp.com/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=10788

**Source: Statistics Canada. 2013. Canada (Code 01) (table). National Household Survey (NHS) Profile. 2011 Census. Statistic Canada Catalogue no. 99-004-XWE. Ottawa. Released June 26, 2013. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/nhs-enm/2011/dp-pd/prof index.cfm?Lang=E

†Source: http://www.countygp.ab.ca/assets/Departments/Planning~Development~Services/Docs/integrated-community-sustainabil ty-plan.pdf

Photo Credits

Front Cover:

Bottom right photo by: Sandra Shepherd

Back Cover (from left to right):

Chris Beauchamp, Chris Beauchamp, Paula Backer, Doreen Altman, Janice Kretzer-Prysunka, Dave Peters, Mary Dahr, and Janice Kretzer-Prysunka

30 Economic Development Overview

Notes:

31 County of Grande Prairie

Visit middleofeverywhere.ca to learn about the four major industries.

county.gp.ab.ca

*Middle of Everywhere is a Registered Trademark of the County of Grande Prairie.