Lethbridge, AB…The latest edition of the Lethbridge Brighter Together Survey wrapped up earlier this month and top line results were shared earlier this morning at the State of the City with Mayor Blaine Hyggen, put on by the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce. The survey conducted by Economic Development Lethbridge (EDL), the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Lethbridge BRZ is done annually to gauge the health of the local business community, identify trends in the data and equip organizers with information to help direct the work they do regarding business retention & expansion and other initiatives. The 2025 survey found that 64% of businesses are optimistic about the health of their business, up from 63% in 2024.
“It is encouraging to see that businesses in Lethbridge are looking forward to a positive 2026, in light of all that’s going on in the world”, says Ben Young, Interim CEO, Economic Development Lethbridge. “EDL continues to use the results from the Brighter Together Survey to help guide the work we do with the help of our Board of Directors. Workforce Initiatives, regular meetings with local manufacturers, the formation of the Resiliency Task Force to aide with tariffs are all projects developed with data from the Brighter Together Survey and other information EDL collects.”
Data from the Brighter Together Survey highlighted:
- The biggest locational strength to doing business in the Lethbridge area is Post-Secondary Presence.
- The biggest locational challenge to doing business in the Lethbridge area is the Municipal Tax Environment.
- The top 3 obstacles for Lethbridge businesses in 2026 are Cost of Insurance, Labour Costs and Impact of Tariffs.
- Local businesses are currently seeking help with Identifying Relevant Grant Funding Opportunities, 49% of businesses surveyed mentioned this as a need for their business.
- Satisfaction with downtown programs was strong, with each option provided scoring higher this year than last including downtown safety and downtown lease costs.
“With costs rising in most facets of not just business, but life, the Brighter Together Survey shows us where organizations like the Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce and our partners can help try and advocate and ideally find solutions with industry and government”, mentions Cyndi Crane, Chief Executive Officer, Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce. “Working with businesses on funding opportunities and training and learning options that will help reduce costs remains a top priority, and one that can help businesses save money, prepare a better workforce, and use technology and innovation to make life easier when it involves their business.”
Full results of the Lethbridge Brighter Together Survey can be found on the Choose Lethbridge website.
For more information, contact:
Mark Neskar/Director, Marketing & Communications
Economic Development Lethbridge
403-393-6376/mark@chooselethbridge.ca
