commentary - 2012

CALGARY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE AND BRAND

Welcome to Calgary Economic Development's new website!  We are excited to provide refreshed content and improved navigation using our new corporate identity and brand.

As connectors, conduits and catalyst, Calgary Economic Development's new brand and website strategy highlights Calgary’s facts, stats and rankings to help spread the word of our city's strong economy and enviable lifestyle that is being recognized both nationally and internationally. Our website supports local businesses, while at the same time is more focused on telling the Calgary story and invites others here to conduct business, pursue investment or make a living and a life.

When we conducted research to learn why people visit our website, we identified three major areas: research and economic indicators; industry information; and service-based information. Our new website features six areas of focus:

Why Calgary highlights Calgary's location, cost of business, cost of living, education and lifestyle advantages. In the coming months, we'll see more content in this section from our Action Calgary partners and our Calgary. Be part of the Energy campaign.

Calgary's industries provides timely information on Calgary Economic Development's sectors of focus: energy; financial services; film, TV & creative industries; and transportation & logistics.

Our robust research section now offers current, historic and forecast economic indicators; studies and research reports; and Calgary's rankings.

Locate to Calgary provides commercial real estate information, as well as a full section for site selectors.

Global development is where you'll find information on Calgary Economic Development's Global Business Centre, as well as information on our incoming and outgoing trade missions.

Finally, workforce management is your resource for labour attraction information and workforce publications (including our 2012 demand and global labour supply study).

A few additional new features you'll see:

• Contact cards on each page make it easy to find the Calgary Economic Development staff member you're looking for when it comes to information on our industries of focus and innovative initiatives;
• Our events calendar is filterable by event organizer, so you can see all Calgary Economic Development, Global Business Centre or public events;
• For those looking to film in Calgary, our film permit section is now web-based, meaning you can apply for a permit to film in Calgary online, along with permits for park use and street/traffic closures.

Over the next months you will see additional content and functionality added making your website experience even more efficient. Thank you for your continued support and interest in Calgary Economic Development.  We look forward to continuing to create opportunities and support individual and business prosperity in the Calgary region.