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Welcome to Lethbridge

This is Lethbridge


Lethbridge’s increasingly diversified economic base benefits from the healthy mix of businesses that are anchored to our community. With no business, payroll or machinery tax, available serviced industrial land ready for construction and office space at less than $16 per square foot, Lethbridge offers a low-cost operating environment with demonstrated savings in areas such as taxation, land, construction and transportation.

A recent Conference Board of Canada Mid-Sized Cities report noted the healthy growth among information and cultural industries in our city, which can be linked to the strong presence of two post-secondary institutions as well as the emergence of Lethbridge as a significant high-tech presence in Alberta.

A mid-sized city of over 100,000 people, Lethbridge is located in the southern part of Alberta, Canada. With an average of 320 days of sunshine each year and one of the warmest winters in the western provinces, there is plenty of opportunity to enjoy all that this city and region has to offer. The geographic location also ensures close proximity to world class ski resorts in the Canadian Rockies, majestic national parks, the vibrant city of Calgary and the U.S. border.

Check out a few quick facts about living in Lethbridge:

  • A family earning $80,000 annually has $16,875 in disposable income (compared to -$60 in Calgary)
  • Lethbridge has more than 70 parks, 200 km of walking and running trails, playgrounds and sports fields
  • Average home prices in Lethbridge are among the lowest of all major cities in Alberta

This website is designed to help you discover everything you need to make Lethbridge your top choice to live, learn, invest, visit and do business.

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Economic Development Lethbridge is seeking professional consultants and service providers who can offer their expertise to clients in southwestern Alberta via 1:1 advisory appointments conducted as a Tecconnect Business Advisor. The role of the Tecconnect Business Advisors is to provide direction and options around approaching specific business challenges. They help entrepreneurs to make informed business decisions but do not direct what those decisions should be. Tecconnect, through government funding, pays an hourly rate to provide this free service to entrepreneurs.

For full details please click on the link below.

Position: Business Advisors - RINSA Tecconnect Entrepreneur Program

Please submit cover letter and resume to eyren@chooselethbridge.ca with “RFP Response - Advisors for the RINSA Tecconnect Entrepreneur Program” in the subject line. This posting will remain open until Tuesday, September 28th. You will receive a confirmation email that your application has been received.
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Building Business Downtown is a Dragons Den-style pitch competition. Local Lethbridge entrepreneurs who are looking to build their business in downtown Lethbridge will pitch their business plans to the Downtown Dragons who are landlords in downtown Lethbridge. 
Entrepreneurs will be looking to make deals on leases in downtown spaces. The top business plans will be looking to compete to win $12,000 towards rent for an entire year + other great prizes! The top business plans will all receive free enrollment in SMARTStart, an entrepreneur training development program (Thanks to Community Futures and the Regional Innovation Network of Southern Alberta (RINSA)).

Dates to Know

August 23 - Applications Open
September 15 - Applications Close
October 20 - Pitch Competition

For more information please visit Building Business Downtown on the Downtown Lethbridge BRZ website.

For a copy of Building Business Downtown application form, please click here.
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Did You Know?

The Southern Alberta agricultural region has an annual production capacity of over 860,000 acres in canola crops - 21% of the Alberta total canola crops are grown here.

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Business

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Our Business
Is Your Business

A bright spot in the province, Lethbridge is the southern Alberta hub for both traditional industries and emerging technologies.

Lethbridge thinkers, makers and doers are leading change in Agriculture, Food Sciences and Manufacturing within a community that is propelled by innovative research and a spirit of entrepreneurship.

Lethbridge’s economy has always been distinguished by the ability of businesses and entrepreneurs to adapt and innovate with changing times. The agriculture sector, long a mainstay of the region’s economy, is shifting from pure production to an increased focus on value-added processing. We are home to a thriving technology sector, driven by a growing knowledge workforce and fueled by the bright minds at our post-secondary institutions and research centres. Our diverse business community includes small businesses and global corporations, 100-year-old companies to the ever-evolving roster of tech startups based out of the Tecconnect centre for entrepreneurship and innovation. Lethbridge has now eclipsed 100,000 residents, making it the third largest city in the province, and remains at the intersection of innovation for business, commerce and education in southern Alberta.   

Our message is clear: if you are looking for a a place to start or grow your business in a community full of opportunity, Lethbridge is a bright choice.

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Business Overview

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Doing Business

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Locating Here

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Economic Indicators

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Industries

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A Bright


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Entrepreneurs

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Welcome to Tecconnect's webpage, we are Southern Alberta's HUB for Innovation & Technology!

If this is your first time visiting and you are looking for advice, support, or guidance for your business or business idea - you're in luck... 

Our Entrepreneur Program is completely FREE and can get you access to expert advice through our business advisory services.  We always recommend the use of innovation and technology to compete in today's business landscape and find efficiencies. 

Whether you've been operating for years and are looking to make a change, or you're considering how to get an idea off the ground, the Tecconnect referral network and education offerings will also strengthen your approach to doing business a better way!

 

Start here by requesting an appointment for an intake application via our Entrepreneur Program Manager:

Email - education@chooselethbridge.ca and we'll be in touch shortly!

 


Frequently Asked:

What is a Tecconnect Business Advisor?

A Tecconnect Business Advisor provides direction and sometimes instruction around specific business challenges.  They help entrepreneurs to make informed business decisions but do not direct what those decisions should be. Tecconnect, through government funding, pays these consultants an hourly rate to provide this free service to entrepreneurs.

Services can include:

One-time or multiple sessions that assist entrepreneurs by providing advice on streamlining or improving business model; addressing a specific business challenge; navigating options and opportunities, connecting with resources and assisting with planning and goal setting.  

Services not included:

Tecconnect Business Advisors will not do the work for you or provide a product for you.  For example, a Business Advisor will not write your business or marketing plan. They will advise you of what those documents are, how they are used and how to create one.  They may also help you determine how to find the right service provider that can provide that service.  But their paid services as a Tecconnect Business Advisor do not expand beyond advisory services.  

 

How is a Business Advisor different from a Mentor?

An advisor, as defined as “one who gives advice” whether it be a business advisor or other type of a specific expertise in a particular area of practice, their job is literally to give you advice on what you should do. Usually, an advisor is engaged through a targeted phone call, an email with a set of questions, or semi-regular update meetings.

A mentor provides more broad support usually through years of experience and wisdom and is not typically associated with the company, but rather, focused on the business owner’s personal growth and development over a longer period of time through a relationship building process. Perhaps the most important distinction between a mentor and an advisor is that a mentor is not someone who is paid and does not financially benefit from your success.

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Business Advice

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Tecconnect

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Programs & Events

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Entrepreneurs

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Rinsa

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Living Well

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Vibrant arts and
Culture and exploring The great outdoors

Life in Lethbridge strikes a balance between the feel of a close-knit small community and the services and amenities of a growing urban centre.

Living in Lethbridge, you’ll find a diverse population, two modern post-secondary institutions, a thriving arts and culture scene, top-notch recreational facilities all set against a stunning natural environment within a community where collaboration is king.

Lethbridge is two hours south of Calgary, Canada’s third largest city and a major transportation hub for the region, and one hour from the U.S. border. Lethbridge’s location in the heart of southern Alberta also puts it in close proximity to premier attractions like Waterton Lakes National Park, Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park. The Oldman River runs through the middle of the city, creating scenic coulees, verdant valley parkland and boundless recreational opportunities.

The following highlight boxes and data tables will propvide you with additional info about our bright city!

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Living here

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Enjoy Lethbridge

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Education

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Health & Safety

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People

One of Lethbridge’s greatest assets is its diverse and dynamic population. Our population continues to grow at a steady rate and as of 2019 sits at 101,482. More than a quarter of the adult population is under the age of 34, Lethbridge brims with a youthful energy.

Over the past five years, our population has grown by an average of almost two per cent per year. That’s nearly 150 new arrivals each month!

Lethbridge also continues to demonstrate a stable, balanced labour market.

Lethbridge employers have access to a young, well-educated pool of potential employees from the more than 3,200 students who graduate from our city’s two post-secondary institutions. For students, that also means a chance to stay in Lethbridge to pursue a diverse range of employment opportunities.

CA data for the city indicate that Lethbridge had the lowest unemployment rate in the province in 2016 at 5.9% (up from 4.0% in 2015).

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Demographics

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Income

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Culture & Diversity

Still Have Questions?

We would be happy to answer any questions you have about Lethbridge. Simply fill out this contact form below and we’ll do our best to reply within 48 hours.