Town of Didsbury Opportunities

The facts speak for themselves

Location

• Located along the Calgary-Edmonton highway corridor, halfway between Red Deer and Calgary, which provides key access to a diverse trading region

• 6 minutes to the Highway 2/ CANAMEX Trade Corridor

• 40 minutes to Calgary International Airport

• 45 minutes to either downtown Calgary or Red Deer

• Less than an hour to the great Canadian Badlands to the east or the beautiful Rocky Mountains to the west

• 15 minutes to Olds-Didsbury private Airport

• 40 minutes to Regional Airport in Red Deer, currently expanded to accommodate international flights when completed

Trading Area

Didsbury is located halfway between Red Deer and Calgary, both adding to our trading areas with over 100,000 and 1.3 million people respectively. Didsbury’s immediate trading regions to the south, west and north is over 52,450 plus the

City of Airdrie, about 20 minutes from Didsbury adds 128,166 people to our trading area.

More facts:

• Land availability for Commercial and Residential and new area structure plans implemented

• Industrial Land 20 -50% of Calgary Region Prices. Non-Residential Tax Rate only 50% of Calgary’s

• Average median household income: $80,000*

• Dwellings: approximately 2,050*

• Average cost to own a home per month: $1,238*

• Average cost of renting a home per month: $1,215*

• Average property price for a single detached home: $340,000*

• Lease cost of commercial property starting at $12 per ft2*

• Purchase of Commercial property starting at $175 per ft2*

*numbers and prices are subject to change

Target Market

Our fastest and biggest growing market and attraction has been coming from the retail, manufacturing/processing and film production industry. Didsbury’s historic downtown is the number one location in Central Alberta for small town production sets and this alone has contributed to many local success stories and with that contributing to business retention. The filming industry and value added businesses such as technology are amongst our biggest target markets.

In addition, we are capitalizing on our health and wellness sector, which is perfect for businesses, organizations and entrepreneurs wanting to expand into this market.

Manufacturing and processing are one of our highlighted industries. There are still a few lots in our current business park available and, with new area structure plans in place these brand new areas will provide more opportunities for you to choose a location for your business and operations; including an area for bigger storefronts. Value added businesses catering to agriculture and the resource sector are a natural fit for our community.

Finally, our downtown has many opportunities to build new or expand with new concepts, unique retail ideas, arts and artisans, and eateries and more. Have an idea for a downtown anchor that will attract visitor and residents alike? Talk to us!

Talented and skilled workforce development

By aligning the needs of local businesses and with nearby post-secondary institutions and training programs, we are creating a talent pool of skilled community members that will be able to assist our investors and businesses in succeeding.

Opportunities at your doorstep

Businesses Needed

Didsbury is an award winning, vibrant town. We’re focused on advancing diversity and inclusion efforts as well as enhancing the local quality of life. In addition, our organization has taken a leadership role in accelerating development in the downtown core as well as adding amenities to enhance the quality of life of our residence and visitors alike!

Business ideas that would be a great fit for Didsbury:

• Hotel to cater to our many visitors and Film Production companies (in 2023 Travel Alberta reported that the Province is in need of approximately 150 hotels)

• Tourism Services and Products

• Men’s Clothing Store

• Shoe Store

• Flower Shop

• Bakery

• Grocery Store

• Boutique style retailers

• Brewery & Distillery

• Manufacturing

• Health & Wellness Businesses & Services

• Family friendly entertainment opportunities

• Artisans, Artists, Musicians

• Agriculture related businesses (farms & fields are our backyard)

• Tech Talent and IT companies to cater to our Filming Industry & more

These are just some ideas and we are open to new possibilities. Connect with us to share your dreams and type of business you are interested in – our doors are open and we welcome you!

Start from the ground up

Land & Commercial buildings available

We have various business, investment and partnership opportunities! Including commercial properties for sale or lease; vacant or fully operational businesses. Email: ecdev@didsbury.ca. We have Commercial, Industrial, as well as Residential land available. Annexed land with new area structure plans and opportunity for industrial, commercial and residential are readily available for you to explore. In addition, Didsbury’s downtown has vacant land and properties available just waiting for your ideas. Contact our Economic Development team for details or connect with our local realtors and developers. For resources and contact information, check our website: www.didsbury.ca.

Doing Business in Didsbury

Whether you require data, information on available talent, training and programs, available building sites, vacant offices or storefronts, incentives and grants, marketing or getting connected with resources, partners and opportunities, we have you covered. Once you see and experience what we are all about, it will be an easy decision to choose Didsbury. We are an excellent place to do business because of the level of solutionoriented, customized services, easy to navigate processes and supportive environment we provide. Through our services and programs, we thrive to create a prosperous future and continued growth in an ever-changing economic environment, for our residents and businesses for generations to come. Note that Didsbury is part of the Provincial Rural Renewal & Rural Entrepreneurship Stream programs (AAIP).

C1: Commercial District - General

C2: Commercial District - Highway

C3: Commercial District - Core

DC: Direct Control District

I1: Industrial District - General

I2: Industrial District - Heavy

IS: Institutional District

R1: Residential District - Single Family

R2: Residential District - General

R3: Residential District - Manufactured

R4: Residential District - Large Lot

R5: Residentail District - High Density

RC: Residential/Commercial District

REC: Recreation/Open Space District

UR: Urban Reserve District Town Boundary

Effective

: Area Structure Plan

New development opportunities

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Dreams come in all shapes and sizes Lets build yours today

Didsbury Advantage

Make a big scene for yourself in Didsbury, central Alberta’s character community. The bones of us – ongoing re-investment in our infrastructure, and a magazine-friendly downtown – are the foundation of our future. Small town connectivity is deeply valued. We will deepen our connection to land and people in bold ways forward including an integrated pathway system and housing affordability. We are enterprising in nurturing of entrepreneurs and investment attraction. Grow with us!

We might be small, but we are fierce, resilient, inclusive, diverse, creative and super friendly

Didsbury isn’t just a “pretty historic face,” it also boasts a vibrant downtown, a progressive health & wellness sector, a growing industrial area, and a diverse, inclusive and supportive community. Take action and come see for yourself.

With an “open for business” attitude, Didsbury welcomes you to consider locating or relocating here to start your commercial or industrial dream venture. Whatever the size of your business or your family - Opportunity calls and Didsbury is your place to be and place to grow.

Quality of Life

Wandering through Didsbury, you will discover a variety of amenities, services and conveniences begging you to ask yourself, “Why am I not living and working here?” Didsbury boasts a hospital, schools, recreational facilities such as a swimming pool, hockey and curling rinks, a skateboard park, a golf course, many baseball diamonds and a vibrant arts and culture scene. Downtown offers a unique walk through history as we continue to preserve the historical buildings and focus on maintaining our heritage through effective design for new buildings. You will find quaint boutique shops, restaurants and coffee shops. And the list goes on. Together with the playgrounds, skateboard Park, 13 parks including a pathway network, there’s no excuse for its 5000+ residents to not get out and stretch their legs. And we can’t forget about the many local events such as the Trade Expo, Country Christmas and Days of Yore that draw close to 2000 visitors annually.

To add to the quality of life, Didsbury includes:

• Didsbury District Health Services Hospital

• Various medical offices and available physicians

• K - 12 schools

• Museum

• Library

• Seniors Care homes offering assisted living for seniors

• Daycares

• Post-Secondary in close proximity

• Campground

• Amphitheatre with outdoor music stage

• Safety for your family

• Veterinarian

Local support for your business

Resources

• Didsbury & District Chamber of Commerce: didsburychamber.ca

• Central Alberta Economic Partnership (CAEP): caepalberta.com

• Central Alberta Community Futures: central.albertacf.com

• Mountain View Regional Film Office: mountainviewfilm.ca

• Banks: Connect First Credit Union - 403 335 3335

ATB - 403 335 3386

• For Developers & Realtors and more Resources please visit the Town of Didsbury website under Business & Development subsection Economic Development: didsbury.ca