Services

Networking

Belonging to a business network is essential to growing your business. Networking is about building relationships to recognize, create and act upon opportunities. For information on building relationships contact Grande Prairie & District Chamber of Commerce or visit their website.

Research Resources

Research services can be accessed through Grande Prairie Regional College Research & Innovation or by email to brutley@gprc.ab.ca . GPRC has access to programs and resources for research projects such as Natural Sciences & Engineering Research Council’s Applied Research and Development Grants.

Business Counselling

Business Counselling for business start-ups and growth is available:

• Community Futures Grande Prairie or by email to holly.sorgen@albertacf.com for information on how to start a business and developing business plans, and on finance loans with introductions and joint ventures with banking institutions in the region
• Go Productivity for business growth & development and introduction to advanced resources.
• Alberta Small Business Resources for business information.

Business Incubator

Business Incubator is managed by Community Futures Grande Prairie. The Grande Prairie Incubator is new facility and service in the region. It encourages, incubates and develops new business startups. The incubator is the ideal atmosphere for developing new ideas, building your networking and learning to grow your business in a supportive environment. Email Holly Sorgen (holly.sorgen@albertacf.com) for information.

Commercialization Services (New Product Development)

Alberta Innovates (AI) and National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP) provide advisory services and financial contributions for qualified Small & Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to help them develop and grow new technology-based ventures. The commercialization process can be summarized as product concept, intellectual property, engineering, prototyping, testing and demonstration.

• Go to Alberta Innovates, call 780-539-2718 or email Bob Hall.
• Connectica is Alberta Innovate’s web portal connecting innovators to funding, programs, services.
• NRC-IRAP Concierge Service and Industrial Development Advisors 1-855-53-GUIDE.

Export Development

Alberta resources for growing your venture into global markets is available through Export Support Fund and federal programs and sources are at Export Development Canada.

Municipalities

Municipalities are receptive to innovation, industry development and industry cluster development. Visit:

• City of Grande Prairie Economic Development or email Brian Glavin.
• County of Grande Prairie or email Chris King.
• Municipal District of Greenview or email Kevin Keller.