Eight municipalities have launched Invest Greater Calgary (IGC), a three-year pilot initiative to attract investment, create jobs, and strengthen the region’s position as a leading North American business hub.
Hosted by Calgary Economic Development (CED), the partnership brings together the City of Airdrie, City of Calgary, City of Chestermere, Town of Cochrane, Foothills County, Town of High River, Town of Okotoks, and Rocky View County under a newly signed agreement.
“Invest Greater Calgary represents the future of economic development,” said Bonnie Nunnari, Interim Lead of the IGC Secretariat at CED. “This partnership shows the power of municipalities working as one to compete globally and act locally. By sharing data, aligning outreach, and presenting a unified vision, we’re signaling to investors that the Calgary region is ready for bold ideas, major projects, and long-term investment.”
In an era of global uncertainty and intensifying competition for capital, IGC aims to give the Calgary region a stronger collective identity and a sharper value proposition for site selectors and investors. By speaking with one voice, municipalities can better attract international capital, support local industries, and respond quickly to trade disruptions.
The pilot will focus on four priorities: regional research and analysis, coordinated marketing and promotion, investor support, and program development. Municipalities are collaborating on a business plan and a regional study to strengthen the value proposition, with an emphasis on positioning the region as an industrial and logistics hub where infrastructure, talent pipelines, and supply chains align.
Importantly, IGC does not replace local economic development—it amplifies it. Each municipality retains its own priorities while benefiting from shared data, broader marketing reach, and coordinated investor engagement. By collaborating instead of competing, communities can pursue regionally significant opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach.
Participating municipalities have committed to a shared annual contribution through a cost-sharing formula based on population and assessment value. Additional funding has been secured through provincial and federal grants. A dedicated secretariat, housed at CED, is coordinating project development and operational support, with a permanent lead to be named later this year.
With funding, governance, and shared priorities in place, Invest Greater Calgary marks a new chapter in regional cooperation—one focused on collective growth that transcends municipal boundaries.
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