Supporting local business
We are committed to:THE CITY OF CALGARY
- Supporting business success in Calgary – from idea to open
- Reducing the time and money it takes to run a business in Calgary
- Improving communications with Calgary’s business community
Business and Local Economy
This page is a glimpse of the work we are doing to support businesses. To see what else we are working on visit:
Business and Local economy
Here's what we've been up to
What are we doing?
We are:
- Improving the journey from idea to open a business in Calgary.
- Updating the process for the Film industry to do business in Calgary.
- Developing a Smart City Strategy.
- Developing tools and online resources to assist businesses through their life-cycle.
- Increasing communications to the business community.
- Hosting webinars on topics that support small businesses.
- Providing free one-on-one Digital Service Squad service to guide entitled small business owners on leveraging digital platforms and technologies to grow their online presence.
What's been done?
We have:
- Created a #SupportLocalYYC campaign to encourage Calgarians to support local businesses. As part of this, we also provided marketing resources for businesses so they too could promote buying locally.
- Provided Canada's first virtual one window approach to permitting online. We offer live chat, saving business applicants time and money.
- Approved pop-up and interim businesses in all commercial areas (another Canada first). This eliminates lengthy approval process and licensing restrictions.
- Established the $100-million Opportunity Calgary Investment Fund to attract and support transformative investments in Calgary that will support economic growth, diversification, and increase employment.
- Created a Business and Local Economy team to support businesses by cutting red tape through streamlining City processes and reducing the time and money it takes to open and run a business in Calgary.
- Created the Business Experience Improvement Program to support people through the process to establish a small business.
- Created a ‘Living Lab’ program to open City of Calgary assets to companies and researchers, to test and try their ideas and products.
- Created a Business Advisory Committee made up of members of the local business community. This Council-led committee gives us insight and feedback into how we can improve City processes.
- Established a Film Friendly team to enhance services and support for the film industry, making Calgary a premier destination for film, TV, and digital media production.