Economic Development
Invest & Operate
In the Flagstaff Region, economic development is about more than business, it’s about people, community, and possibility. We support entrepreneurs, strengthen local industries, and help create the conditions for long-term success.
Here, innovation meets rural resilience, and every opportunity is grounded in community.
Business Supports & Resources
Supporting Business. Strengthening Community. Creating Opportunity.
Small Business Resources
Helpful Tools & Guides for Entrepreneurs, Service Providers and Business Owners
We know that as a business owner it’s important to find the right information when you need it. We’ve helped make the process easier by sourcing tools, articles, videos and books to answer the most common questions rural based businesses have at each stage of business.
We love our entrepreneurs! You make Flagstaff a beautiful, rich place to live and do business.
Business Growth Roadmap
Where does your business fit in the growth journey? Check out each of the following four stages to identify which one best describes your business and find resources tailored to your needs.
Ideation
Key Business Tasks:
- Identify a business idea.
- Complete a lean business canvas.
Building
Key Business Tasks:
- Operations: Register business, file for a GST number, acquire insurance, Complete business plan, complete a yearly strategic plan with measurable goals such as business objectives & key results (OKR’s) and key performance indicators (KPI’s).
- Marketing & Sales: Create a marketing plan, establish at least one marketing channel and one platform/location for sales.
- Finance: Determine operational costs, track monthly cash flow, file taxes, open a bank account.
- Join Flagstaff County business directory as well as participate in community meetups.
- Financial Target: Generate revenue to meet/exceed costs of business.
Growing
Key Business Tasks:
- Marketing & Sales: Social media strategy, build a brand package, identify target market, create target market personas, identify collaboration opportunities.
- Finance: Annual financial report, owner receives a salary.
- Operations: Establish company values, purpose, vision and mission, create agreements for wholesalers/retailers/vendors, create annual strategy with measurable quarterly goals.
- Financial target: Consistent revenue that could ideally sustain one employee (generally owner) on at least a part-time basis $30-60k.
Scaling
Key Business Tasks:
- Operations: Create hiring process (job postings, interview, onboarding, performance reviews), embed values & purpose throughout operations/marketing/sales, establish wellness & culture plan, document and explain processes, CSR & giving.
- Marketing & Sales: Establish secondary sales platform (e.g., e-commerce, wholesaler, niche events), establish networking and partnership development plan, create brand guidelines, implement sales CRM.
- Finance: Weekly cashflow, establish allocations for profit, equipment upgrades, emergency fund and begin to establish funds to cover 3 months of secondary employee wages, identify payroll options.
- Financial target: Revenue of $100-200k
- Revenue should allow the owner to receive a salary, set aside profit allocation, equipment upgrades, emergency fund and begin to establish fund to cover 3 months of secondary employee wages.
Community Resources
Women
Advising / Coaching / Succession Planning
Financing / Grants / Loans / Tax Credits
Business Plan Writing
Mentoring
Events / Webinars / Workshops
Rural
Francophone
Indigenous
Immigrant
Persons with Disabilities
Black
Alberta Women Entrepreneurs
BizPal
Permits & Licenses
Business Link
Market research & business plan reviews
Community Futures
Futurpreneur
Support for young business owners (age 18-39 only)
Government of Alberta Small Business Resource
OwnR
Register and incorporate and create legal agreements for your business