MHED during 2025 Medicine Hat Stampede. From left to right: Lisa Galecki, Teresa Schmidt, Darren Hall, Al Sharma, Selena McLean-Moore, Tracy Tawiah.--Submitted photo
In 2025, Medicine Hat Economic Development entered a new chapter as a data-driven, strategically focused organization powering regional growth.
Following its 2023 relaunch, which prioritized building strong foundations, deepening partnerships and shaping a comprehensive strategy, this year was all about action. MHED delivered measurable results, strengthened its presence and elevated the profile of Medicine Hat and Southeast Alberta on the provincial and national stage.
A major milestone was the formal launch of the Southeast Alberta Economic Opportunity Strategy, developed in partnership with municipalities across the region. This five-year strategy established a co-ordinated roadmap for growth and positioned Southeast Alberta as a unified, investment-ready region.
The resulting “one-voice” approach enhances competitiveness at provincial and national tables. Two new regional committees – one dedicated to project implementation and the other to advocacy – now ensure alignment with key government partners. Through regional summits, workshops and extensive engagement, partners aligned around five shared growth priorities: alignment and advocacy, talent attraction, regional tourism, agriculture and agri-food, and defence and aerospace.
MHED also continued to support local industry through targeted programming, relationship-building and data analysis. In 2025, we released two State of the Industry reports, providing real-time insights into the air and defence and manufacturing sectors. These studies identified challenges related to workforce, infrastructure and supply chain gaps, and outlined industry validated actionable next steps. Throughout the year, we strengthened industry connections by hosting the Manufacturing Forward conference, convening quarterly meetings of the Business Growth Collective, and expanding our Small Business Navigator service, which offers entrepreneurs and employers easier access to City resources, partners and supports.
Significant progress was also made in two of our most promising growth sectors. aerospace and defence, and agriculture and agri-business. Southeast Alberta’s exceptional assets, including DRDC Suffield, the Foremost UAS Test Range and emerging autonomous-systems expertise, continue to reinforce our position as a national hub for aerospace innovation. MHED’s in-depth engagement with local and national stakeholders helped guide a sector strategy focused on company expansion, investment attraction and opportunities for policy alignment.
Agriculture and agri-food saw similar momentum. A major regional study, completed in late 2025, examined opportunities in value-added processing, ag-tech applications, logistics and cross-sector collaboration. This work positions Southeast Alberta as one of Canada’s most competitive emerging agri-food regions, with multiple action items already moving toward implementation in 2026.
Investment attraction remained a highly productive area of focus. MHED participated in eight major conferences and events across North America, strengthening relationships with investors, industry partners and investment agencies. Together with the City’s Land and Real Estate department, we advanced a strong pipeline of opportunities. In 2025, nearly $4 billion in total project value moved through proposals, negotiations or final decisions, representing more than 650 potential jobs across sectors. Expansion proposals added $224 million and another 600 potential jobs to the pipeline.
Workforce development, an issue affecting many employers in the region, remained a central priority this year. MHED administered the Rural Renewal program (currently on pause), helping match newcomers with local employers. Labour-market data confirmed rising demand for skilled workers and highlighted demographic shifts affecting labour availability. In response, MHED delivered an employer-focused workshop, and secured provincial funding for talent-attraction initiatives to retain and attract more residents and skilled workers to Medicine Hat in 2026 and beyond.
Improving our investment readiness also remains a key area of progress. The City Centre Vibrancy Program supported local businesses in enhancing storefronts and public spaces, while the Housing Infill and Redevelopment Incentive Program helped advance hundreds of new multi-family units across the city. Internally, MHED continued building tools and processes to support future investment, including a new data platform launching in 2026 that will provide real-time dashboards, GIS mapping and economic indicators to enhance investor confidence and decision-making.
With strong foundational work complete, 2026 will be a year of acceleration – turning our strategy into visible results, advancing sector development, expanding regional initiatives and deepening partnerships with business, industry and community stakeholders.
MHED remains committed to positioning Medicine Hat among the top economic performers in Alberta and ensuring sustained, long-term prosperity for the region.
Selena McLean-Moore is director of Medicine Hat Economic Development.
