2026 Community Award Winners
2026 Winners EDA Awards of Excellence
Community Awards
Recognizing outstanding economic development projects from across the province in 4 categories and 3 population sizes.
1. Economic Development Renewal:
Recognizes projects that transform a vacant or underutilized asset into a driver of economic activity in a community and can include beautification of downtown, retail, commercial or residential spaces, incentive programs, or renewal of underutilized tourism infrastructure.
Large Community: The City of Red Deer - Capstone Activation Fund
The 2025 Capstone Activation Fund (CAF) transformed Capstone into a vibrant, connected community destination through strategic marketing and event activations. It supported 16 organizers in delivering 28 events, with $80,000 in funding that leveraged an additional $42,000+ in private investment. These initiatives created over $122,000 in total value, attracted 26,000+ attendees, and engaged more than 500 volunteers, sponsors, and partners. A coordinated multi-channel campaign, led by Live in Capstone social media and supported by traditional media, generated millions of impressions, boosted engagement, and increased awareness of Capstone as a hub for recreation, culture, and community gathering—while strengthening local businesses and showcasing successful economic development marketing.
Award Partner:
Medium Community: City of Airdrie - Building Momentum Downtown: Airdrie's Incentive Program
This targeted economic development initiative is designed to encourage reinvestment, property improvements, redevelopment, and activation in Airdrie’s downtown core. In 2025, the program received 29 applications and allocated $574,911 in municipal funding, generating nearly $2 million in total project investment—a strong 3:1 leverage ratio. Supporting projects such as façade upgrades, redevelopment readiness, and community events, the program boosts local business activity, enhances urban vitality, and demonstrates how strategic municipal incentives can drive private investment and downtown renewal.
Award Partner:
Small Community: County of Minburn - Buy a Lot For A Loonie Program
The program was created to encourage new residential and business growth by offering select County-owned lots for $1 to buyers committed to development, while selling other lots at market value. Strong social media promotion generated significant interest from developers and residents, leading to multiple lot sales within weeks. The initiative has helped revitalize local communities by removing derelict properties, encouraging new construction, and improving livability and appearance—all without requiring County-funded legal, subdivision, or development costs.
Award Partner:
2. Innovative Approach to Economic Development:
Recognizes projects that used a new, creative and distinctive approach to economic development in their communities.
Large Community: Economic Development Lethbridge - Quantum Super Hub
In 2025, Economic Development Lethbridge launched the world’s first community-based Quantum Super Hub, giving rural and mid-sized regions direct access to advanced computing technologies. By combining quantum systems, artificial intelligence, and classical high-performance computing through an easy-to-use interface, the Hub enables businesses, municipalities, educators, and healthcare teams to tackle complex challenges without specialized expertise. In its first 90 days, the initiative delivered 50 live demonstrations, engaged 117 global Master Class participants, and generated nearly 56 million media impressions.
Award Partner:
Medium Community: City of Medicine Hat - OpporTOURnity Medicine Hat
An experiential investment attraction initiative that showcased the city’s strengths through authentic local experiences instead of traditional marketing. The event hosted 23 provincial, federal, and international investment professionals for customized tours, business presentations, networking with local leaders, and a luncheon with the MLA. By focusing on high-touch relationship building, the program raised Medicine Hat’s profile, strengthened connections with key influencers, generated approximately 10 qualified leads in priority sectors, and enhanced regional visibility through collaborative, multi-channel promotion.
Award Partner:
Small Community: City of Camrose - Tourism Opportunity Prospectus Development
The region developed ten investment-ready prospectuses to identify high-potential tourism business opportunities aligned with local assets, community values, and long-term economic goals. Using research, stakeholder engagement, and market analysis, the project identified gaps in current tourism offerings and opportunities to strengthen Camrose as a destination. The prospectuses detail opportunities across accommodations, attractions, experiences, and support services, providing investors with clear insights on market demand, site needs, capital costs, and five-year profitability projections. Overall, the initiative supports tourism investment attraction, encourages private-sector growth, and enhances year-round tourism in Camrose.
Award Partner:
3. Regional Collaboration and Partnerships:
Recognizes projects where regional collaboration and/or strategic partnerships were the key success factor for the project.
Large Community: SouthWest Alberta - Blackfoot Signage Project
A regional collaboration that promotes Blackfoot language and culture through signage in communities, institutions, businesses, and public spaces across southwestern Alberta. Now in its third year, the initiative continues to grow in participation, installations, and impact. Led by Community Futures Lethbridge Region with regional partners, the program provides coordinated translation services and matching funding to maintain cultural integrity while reducing barriers to participation. Through three phases, it has supported gateway signs, trail markers, institutional naming features, commercial signage, and interpretive installations, with demand exceeding available funding and demonstrating strong regional support.
Award Partner:
Medium Community: Town of Okotoks - Hometown Holidays & Reindeer Games
This Initiative transformed downtown Okotoks into a vibrant seasonal destination that supported the local economy, increased business activity, and strengthened community pride. From mid-November to early January, the Town partnered with local organizations, businesses, and volunteers to animate the downtown core with lights, art, music, wagon rides, holiday characters, live performances, and family-friendly programming that encouraged residents and visitors to explore local shops. Complementing the festivities, the Reindeer Games shop-local campaign drove $10,118 in verified spending at locally owned small businesses.
Award Partner:
Small Community: Whitecourt and Grande Prairie Regional Tourism Association - Explore Northwest Alberta
This campaign united Northern Alberta’s attractions under one strong regional brand to drive summer travel. Through collaborative digital storytelling, shared resources, social media training, and synchronized live broadcasts, the initiative helped local operators and small businesses expand their reach. The campaign attracted 35,000 unique travellers, delivered immediate economic impact including a 56% revenue increase, and strengthened regional business networks. It now stands as a strong example of how regional collaboration can boost tourism, create jobs, and build long-term economic resilience.
Award Partner:
4. Marketing for Economic Development Outcomes
This category highlights economic development marketing and/or promotional campaigns with demonstrated and measurable outcomes.
Large Community: Southern Alberta Investment and Trade Inititiative - SAITI Global Marketing Campaign
This marketing campaign delivered strong, measurable results in positioning Southern Alberta as a leading agri-food investment destination. With an investment of just over $10,000 across YouTube, LinkedIn, and X, it generated 5.1 million impressions and nearly 30,000 clicks, significantly increasing global awareness among targeted industry audiences. Using data-driven optimization, platform-specific targeting, authentic local success stories, and ongoing A/B testing, the campaign maximized efficiency and engagement while highlighting Southern Alberta’s strengths in sustainable production, advanced infrastructure, and integrated value chains. Overall, it boosted investor visibility and reinforced the region’s reputation as connected, sustainable, and investment-ready.
Award Partner:
Medium Community: Town of Okotoks - Good Morning Okotoks: Business Stories Driving Our Economy
This video podcast created to showcase local entrepreneurs and raise the profile of businesses driving the community’s economy. As a modernized version of the Town’s Business Spotlight Program, the pilot used digital storytelling to strengthen engagement with the business community and increase visibility for local businesses. Four pilot episodes were produced and shared through YouTube, the municipal website, and social media, generating more than 120,000 views and increasing YouTube subscribers by 5.3%. Strong local interest also led 30 businesses to request participation in future episodes, demonstrating the program’s innovative and scalable value for economic development.
Award Partner:
Small Community: Town of Taber - Celebrate Taber
Celebrate Taber was a year-long marketing campaign created to mark Taber’s 120th anniversary while boosting community pride, tourism awareness, and local economic activity. Through a modern, data-driven strategy featuring a strong visual identity, dedicated microsite, and targeted digital advertising, the campaign promoted key events and celebrations throughout the year. With an advertising investment of just $7,222, it generated 3.1 million impressions, 12,223 clicks, 735 measurable online actions, and a 6.01% conversion rate. The initiative increased event attendance, expanded regional visibility, and strengthened Taber’s reputation as a welcoming and vibrant destination.
Award Partner:
