2022-2026 Economic Development and Tourism Strategy
Latest updates
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Seasonal patio program
September 23, 2024 -
Guelph Tourism launches funding streams to support tourism product development
June 3, 2024 -
City of Guelph welcomes Conestoga College to the downtown core
April 13, 2023
Guiding principles
Goals and priorities
Goal 1: Expand support for existing businesses
Priority 1.1: Implement a formalized business expansion and support program.
Priority 1.2: Support industry-led tourism product development.
Priority 1.3: Build awareness of industry cluster support in decision making.
Goal 2: Attract targeted investment
Priority 2.1: Proactively target lead generation activities
Priority 2.2: Strategically market Guelph’s industry clusters
Priority 2.3: Leverage the Guelph Junction Railway infrastructure to grow City revenues
Priority 2.4: Develop a sport, group, and conference tourism plan
Goal 3: Champion an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem
Priority 3.1: Partner to support the entrepreneurial ecosystem
Priority 3.2: Define an approach to guide private investment in the Guelph Innovation District
Priority 3.3: Grow a robust “Buy local Guelph” initiative
Priority 3.4: Celebrate the successes of diverse Guelph entrepreneurs
Goal 4: Advance talent attraction and skill development
Priority 4.1: Unify and support workforce development organizations through Grow Guelph
Priority 4.2: Engage private sector, education, and workforce leaders to collaborate and address immediate and long-term workforce needs
Goal 5: Build a must-see visitor destination in Ontario
Priority 5.1: Implement the Municipal Accommodation Tax.
Priority 5.2: Curate destination experiences.
Priority 5.3: Enhance placemaking throughout the city.
Priority 5.4: Enhance wayfinding and visitor services assets.
Goal 6: Enhance Guelph’s unique brand for business, talent and visitors
Priority 6.1: Create a marketing strategy that conveys the “Guelph experience” and value proposition
Priority 6.2: Develop revised destination marketing plan in conjunction with new Destination Marketing Organization
Industry clusters and priority sectors
Industry clusters
Advanced Manufacturing
Agri-Innovation
Life Sciences
Priority sectors
Cleantech
Information and Communications Technology
Documents
2022-2026 Economic Development Strategy Action plan2022-2026 Economic Development Strategy Background reports
What’s next?
Supporting strategy documentation will undergo a data review in 2022 with the release of the 2021 Census of Population statistics and supporting data sets. We’ll refresh the strategy in 2023, complete a more robust review in 2025 before releasing the next strategy in 2026.
For more information
Christine Chapman, Manager, Economic Development
Economic Development and Tourism
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2823
[email protected]