May 29, 2026
Inside Alberta’s Industrial Heartland: Mayor Andrew Knack Joins the Chamber and Members on a Tour
In collaboration with the Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association (AIHA), the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce was proud to host a tour of the Industrial Heartland alongside Chamber members, Mayor Andrew Knack, and Mayor of Fort Saskatchewan and Chairperson of the AIHA, Lisa Makin.
What we saw was beyond impressive: a region supporting more than 8,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs, $50 billion in capital investment, and a ranking among the top two industrial clusters in the world. This is all in Edmonton's backyard, and it's extraordinary.
Here are the key takeaways.
The Heartland delivers long-term return on investment for Edmonton
Alberta’s Industrial Heartland has proven its strength as a long-term investment environment. With more than 23 companies operating in the region without ever leaving, the Heartland offers a level of stability and reliability that is rare in global industrial markets. Employees on these projects live in Edmonton and surrounding communities, where they contribute to those economies, pay taxes, and purchase homes.
While industrial activity in the region dates to the 1950s, the formal establishment of the AIHA in 1999 helped unlock coordinated growth, governance, and investment attraction efforts. Today, it stands as a model for how regional collaboration can drive sustained economic success.
Designated industrial zones strengthen competitiveness
As the first and only designated industrial zone of its kind in Canada, the Heartland provides investors with a level of certainty that is difficult to replicate elsewhere. By concentrating heavy industry within a defined area, the region offers clearer regulatory expectations, streamlined planning, and the long-term stability companies need to make major capital investments with confidence.
Its geographic positioning further enhances efficiency, allowing companies to reduce costs and streamline operations while having a flat profile, ideal for building. This coordinated approach enables faster project development and strengthens the region’s ability to attract and retain major industrial investment.
Clustering industry drives sustainability and innovation
The clustering of businesses within the Heartland supports both economic and environmental sustainability. Proximity between facilities reduces transportation needs, lowers emissions, and improves operational efficiency across supply chains. Facilities in the region are also leading to resource efficiency, including operating well below water capacity limits and integrating land reclamation practices.
Major projects like Dow’s Path2Zero expansion in Fort Saskatchewan, which is set to become the world’s first net zero emissions integrated ethylene crackers and derivatives site, demonstrate how industrial growth and climate ambition can go hand in hand.
Stay Engaged.
The Chamber was energized by what we saw, and we will continue creating opportunities for members to connect directly with major economic drivers like the Alberta Industrial Heartland.
