This year's Economic Growth theme was: Empowering Growth | Inspiring Collaboration

By attending this session, as your local Chamber, we were able to hear about and dive into a mix of timely topics, from current economic conditions and regional activity updates to new exciting opportunities. We were able to gain insights into workforce development, housing initiatives, the emerging aerospace sector, energy transition, regional success stories, and more.

Through various expert-led sessions focused on sharing best practices, real collaboration strategies, and practical solutions, we were able to pull key highlights and insights into sustainable growth, overcoming challenges, and succeeding together as a region.

We are now sharing our insights with you about what we learned so you can be a part of making Southeast Alberta thrive!

Our Key Takeaways

• Behind Headlines Lie Opportunities: Despite anxiety-inducing news, there are silver linings for communities that look deeper.
• Tap into our Entrepreneurial Mindset: Quoting Machiavelli—“Entrepreneurs are those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity.”
• Focus on the Call to Action: Communities must stay informed, collaborate, and act strategically to turn uncertainty into growth.
• Lead with intention: Southeast Alberta is quietly leading in economic resilience and diversification.
• Tap into our Regional Strengths: The region is transitioning from a single-industry base to multi-sector growth, especially in aerospace and agrifood.

With strategic investment and collaborative infrastructure, the region is poised to become a provincial leader in the coming months.

Highlights and Takeaways for our Chamber of Commerce

Unified Voice for Regional Leadership & Advocacy

• Champion unified messaging across municipalities and sectors.
• Advocate for interprovincial trade barrier removal.
• Support infrastructure investment and housing innovation.

Promotion and Support for Workforce Development

• Advocate, support and promote youth employment programs and employer engagement.
• Promote skilled trades and non-traditional career pathways.
• Support and promote sector-specific events and initiatives

Connections and Facilitation for Industry Development and Growth

• Facilitate partnerships and connections
• Support and advocate for industry development and pilot projects
• Advocate for and promote Southeast Alberta as a hub for innovating housing, aerospace, defence, agriculture and agrifood processing.

Highlights and Takeaways for our Business Community

Expand Talent & Workforce Opportunities

• Partner with schools and colleges for workforce placements and mentorship
• Use youth hiring incentives to offset costs
• Invest in upskilling and workforce retention strategies

Explore Opportunities in Sector Growth

• Aerospace and defence 
• Agriculture and Agrifood processing
• Innovative housing and infrastructure 

Invest in Operational Resilience

• Diversify supply chains and build redundancy
• Optimize throughput and lean operations
• Collaborate through peer networks and regional clusters (* our note: the Chamber provides a great avenue for this)

 Innovation Adoption

• Pilot new technologies
• Diversify energy applications
• Explore generative artificial intelligence, data management and cybersecurity.

If you are interested in the speakers and event information, click here. 

If you are interested in our notes and the full breakdown of highlights and takeaways, click here.