A Calgary-region economic development initiative backed by Cochrane town council in July has now been officially launched.
Cochrane is one of eight municipalities taking part in Invest Greater Calgary, a three-year program designed to boost investment, create jobs and strengthen the region’s identity as a competitive North American business hub.
The program pools expertise and resources from the City of Calgary, City of Airdrie, City of Chestermere, Town of Cochrane, Foothills County, Town of High River, Town of Okotoks and Rocky View County.
It will focus on four areas: regional research and analysis, marketing and promotion, investor support and program development. The goal is to present a unified voice to international investors while allowing municipalities to maintain their own economic development priorities.
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In July, Cochrane council agreed to contribute $29,064 over three years under a cost-sharing formula tied to population and assessment values.
The town’s share amounts to $9,688 annually, with this year’s contribution drawn from funds previously allocated to the now-defunct Calgary Metropolitan Region Board. Contributions for 2026 and 2027 will be subject to approval by the next town council.
In addition to municipal contributions, the project has also secured funding from provincial and federal grants.
Officials say the collaboration reflects a global shift toward regional partnerships to compete for major investment. They argue it will better position the Calgary region as an industrial hub, leveraging shared infrastructure, labour pools and supply chains.
A dedicated secretariat, housed at Calgary Economic Development, has been established to lead project development, coordinate operational support and advance initiatives across all focus areas. An interim lead is in place with a permanent secretariat lead to be named later this year.
The pilot will be evaluated at the end of three years to determine whether it should be extended or expanded.