We understand that attracting and retaining talent is a key barrier to local business expansion. Supporting both the Rural Renewal Stream and Rural Entrepreneur Stream and attracting new talent to Lethbridge will be a key driver in the success of our business community.
Listed below are some of the programs and resources we are working on that will lead to individuals and businesses considering Lethbridge as a place to call home and do business.
Candidate reviews for the Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream are conducted bi-weekly on Fridays. Employers and candidates are asked to have their forms completed and submitted by Thursday of that week. The Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Community Partnership will notify businesses and candidates by Wednesday of the following week to the status of their application.
The Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Partnership Council meet every other week to evaluate application submissions. The next application review will take place on Friday, July 25th. Completed forms should be sent to immigration@chooselethbridge.ca by no later than noon on Thursday, July 24th to be included in this review.
Economic Development Lethbridge is honoured to administer the Rural Renewal Stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program for the City of Lethbridge. The Rural Renewal Stream offers approved employers in eligible industries the ability to seek out non-permanent residents to fill labour gaps in eligible occupations within designated industries. This program provides employers access to a wider labour pool, while offering eligible workers a pathway to employment and permanent residency. Through the parameters of this program Economic Development Lethbridge is able to help reduce labour shortages by endorsing employers and job seekers to fast track immigration for eligible candidates.
The Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream
Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Forms and Resources
Please make aure to submit the most current RRS Forms, thay have been updated to reflect information needed to make the process of approving businesses and candidiates as easy as possible. Links to these forms can be found below.
Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Community Partnership
The Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Community Partnership is made up of community stakeholders with a shared mandate of supporting employers and newcomers to the community. The partnership is made up of:
Economic Development Lethbridge
Lethbridge Family Services – Immigrant Services Division
Lethbridge Chamber of Commerce
Flexibility Learning Systems
Lethbridge Construction Association
The ‘Community Partnership’ is responsible for approving eligible employers and endorsing candidates who are a good fit for the community and are interested in applying for permanent residency through the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program – Rural Renewal Stream.
Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Forms
Lethbridge Rural Renewal Stream Job Board
The Lethbridge Rural Entrepreneur Stream
The Lethbridge Rural Entrepreneur Stream of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) allows Economic Development Lethbridge (EDL) on behalf of the City of Lethbridge to potentially nominate entrepreneurs who want to start a new business or invest in an existing business in the city. The Rural Entrepreneur Stream will promote economic growth by attracting immigrants who can start new ventures or assist with succession planning for businesses with owners looking to either retire or move on.
Basic steps in the process:
1. Candidate
Read the AAIP terms and conditions from the provincial website. The AAIP process is involved and takes considerable time. Be sure you understand what is involved. (https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-entrepreneur-stream.aspx)
2. Candidate
Review the eligibility criteria to ensure you qualify, complete a self assessment. (https://extern.labour.alberta.ca/AAIPSAT/aaipsat-rural-entrepreneur-stream.aspx)
3. Candidate
Provide a detailed business plan to us for review. (Email: immigration@chooselethbridge.ca)
4. EDL
Review business plan for alignment with local goals and objectives as well as provincial program guidelines. If successful, issue invitation for exploratory visit.
5. Candidate:
Conduct Exploratory visit to Lethbridge if invited to do so. (Be sure to check travel visa requirements as necessary.)
6. Both:
Review discussions from exploratory visit, update business plan as necessary.
7. EDL:
Conduct second business plan review to ensure alignment and fit.
8. EDL
Issue Community Support letter.
9. Candidate:
Submit Expression of Interest or EOI (proof of English qualification, all supporting documents etc.) to the Government of Alberta.
10. Candidate:
Complete and submit full Business Application Package (if EOI is approved) to the Government of Alberta.
11. Candidate
Apply for work permit with the Government of Canada.
12. Candidate
Begin provincial nomination process.
13. Candidate
Establish business in Lethbridge.
Investor Eligibility:
The Government of Alberta mandates a number of requirements for prospective investors including but not limited to:
- must have a minimum of 3 years of experience as an active business owner or manager
- minimum of high school equivalent to the Canadian standard is also necessary at the time of application
- minimum Canadian Language Benchmark level of 4 for each English language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking
- minimum net worth of $300,000 where all assets are the candidate’s own personal holdings or that of their spouse
- minimum ownership of 51% of a new business or 100% ownership for business succession
Candidates should carefully review the detailed program eligibility requirements here: https://www.alberta.ca/aaip-rural-entrepreneur-stream-eligibility.aspx
Exploratory Visit:
If we are satisfied that the proposed business will be a benefit to the community, we will extend an invitation to meet for an exploratory visit. This in-person visit is mandatory and the purpose of the exploratory visit is to assist the entrepreneur in making an informed decision about operating and managing a business in our community.
Community Support Letter:
After the exploratory visit, the entrepreneur will provide a copy of the updated Business Proposal to Economic Development Lethbridge for further review and consideration. The Business Proposal Summary should reaffirm the discussions on the business venture in the community during the exploratory visit. If the community deems that the entrepreneur and their business proposal is a benefit to the community, the community representative will endorse the Business Proposal Summary and issue the Community Support Letter to the entrepreneur.
Expression of Interest:
Once the entrepreneur receives the endorsed Business Proposal Summary and Community Support Letter, the entrepreneur can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program Portal pending they meet all Rural Entrepreneur Stream eligibility criteria.
