Their unique operating and governance model is scalable, creating a platform for economic development initiatives that can be started, matured, and exited as required.

This unified approach, founded on principles of scalability, adaptability, and leveraging public assets, all for a single purpose of growing their economy, means that their city can move faster on new initiatives, take on bigger risks, and achieve more than anyone could have expected.

At EEDC, they know that economic development is a team sport, and their five divisions work in unison on initiatives that generate economic impact and build the brand and reputation of their city:

• Trade and Investment Division – works with inbound foreign investors and outbound local businesses who choose to take a risk and grow their business in new markets, making the leap from local to global.
• Urban Economy Division – works and collaborates with businesses, stakeholders, and partners locally and regionally to foster growth downtown, and from their four innovation and entrepreneur communities:

  Startup Edmonton: an entrepreneurial campus and community hub that transforms ideas into tech-enabled products and companies.

  TEC Edmonton: a joint venture partnership between EEDC and the University of Alberta, focused on accelerating the growth of emerging technology-based companies.

  Edmonton Research Park: an incubator and accelerator space home to more than 1,500 members at 55+ companies in diverse fields from biotechnology to energy.

  Make Something Edmonton: an award-winning open project platform for engaged citizens who are shaping their city to collaborate and showcase their ideas.

• Edmonton Tourism – Edmonton’s destination sales organization and the marketing voice for their city’s visitor experience, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• Shaw Conference Centre – Edmonton’s premier convention centre, a unique downtown meeting location where people gather to learn, innovate, trade, and celebrate.
• EEDC Corporate Services Division – the glue that holds EEDC together, providing Finance, Information Technology, Human Resource, Market Intelligence, and Marketing services to all EEDC divisions.