Indigenous business and investment is growing and evolving in Alberta, creating new jobs, huge opportunity, and billions in revenues.
Partnerships with, and investment in, Indigenous communities and business in Alberta is a unique opportunity to make an impact, invest in ESG, and create exciting new innovations in tech, energy, tourism, agriculture and more.
Here are some key facts:
- In Alberta, the contribution of Indigenous people to the economy includes over $6B in GDP and supports approximately 60,000 jobs.
- In 2021, ATB Financial and MNP released a report which showcased that Indigenous owned-businesses in Alberta support roughly 15,000 jobs.
- Tourism is a key player in Alberta’s economy, and Indigenous Tourism Alberta reported that Alberta had the third largest Indigenous tourism footprint in Canada, with 125 operators employing over 2,900 people (pre-COVID) to create authentic tourism and shopping experiences.
- In the growing tech industry in Alberta, 4% of tech workers identify as Indigenous.
- There are also a number of avenues and funds to support new Indigenous investment. The Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation (AIOC) provides funding for Indigenous communities to invest in projects in various industries like natural resources, agriculture, telecommunication, and transportation projects. A recent example is a $27M loan to Frog Lake First Nation to help finance a cogeneration facility — one of many innovative community-led energy and cleantech projects.
- The Aboriginal Business Investment Fund (ABIF) also provides funding to Indigenous-owned economic development projects and provided funding to eight different projects in 2020-2021.
Invest Alberta collaborates with Indigenous communities, stakeholders and organizations like the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation to support high-value investments.
Investment in, and collaboration with, Indigenous business, communities and investors is a high-impact investment that benefits the environment, creates jobs, diversifies global and local economies, and creates new partnerships and exciting innovations.
Learn more about First Nations, Métis and Inuit Peoples across Canada.
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