Edmonton has been ranked among the top five large American cities for Human Capital and Lifestyle by fDi Intelligence, a world leader in investment promotion and economic development solutions. fDi Intelligence, a service from the Financial Times, released its 2021/22 rankings for Top American Cities of the Future. Edmonton measured up against cities from across North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean, proving itself to be a top strategic destination for investment.
These rankings demonstrate what we already know—the Edmonton region is a great location to invest in, to build a business and a life.
Edmonton ranked #4 in the Top 10 Large American Cities of the Future – Human Capital and Lifestyle Category With a population of nearly 1.5 million people, and growing, it’s evident people from across the province, country, and globe are drawn to Edmonton for the quality and vibrancy of life it has to offer. Ranked ahead of other large Canadian cities, Vancouver and Calgary, Edmonton boasts a highly-skilled body of human capital and talent, stemming from its world-class post-secondary institutions.
And you can afford to have a high quality of life in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region. Higher than average salaries, combined with some of the lowest housing costs in major Canadian cities mean that people can afford to permanently settle in the city with disposable income to spend.
Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson says “quality-of-life considerations anchor individuals’ decisions on where to move and set up a life and family. While we often say that the Edmonton Region is young, educated and growing, your future is indeed here. With world-ranking post-secondary institutions and a strong public education system, backed by four seasons, vibrant arts and culture and one-of-a-kind geography, Edmonton is indeed a one-of-a-kind welcoming destination.”
Edmonton is an all-season city with more festivals than there are weekends. Winter and summer and everything in between, Edmonton hosts more than 50 arts, cultural, and sports festivals in an average year, drawing locals and tourists alike.
The city’s river valley and ravine system make up the largest municipal park system in North America. It’s a well-loved gem to the people who live here—no matter where you are in the city, you are only a few minutes away from groomed parks, picnic spots and trails, and rugged adventure.
Edmonton Ranked #21 in the Top 25 American Cities for Foreign Direct Investment Strategy Edmonton was one of three Canadian cities to be recognized with a top ranking for Foreign Direct Investment Strategy. Rankings in this category were determined based on survey submissions by local economic development organizations (EDOs) and investment promotion agencies (IPAs). Organizations faced a critical point at the start of the pandemic, as they determined how to maintain and grow their engagement with potential foreign investor audiences.
As an investment agency representing the 15 municipalities of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, we’ve managed a coordinated and agile response to the new pressures, moving engagement primarily online and coming up with creative solutions to maintain deals and trust we had built with our international investors. Nowhere is this ability more apparent than with the recent Air Products announcement that they will be building the world’s largest net-zero hydrogen facility in the Edmonton Region.
