County of Grande Prairie Launches 8th Annual Business Survey

The County of Grande Prairie is inviting local businesses to help shape the future of the county through its 8th annual Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) survey, kicking off Monday, May 4, 2026.  

The survey gathers from businesses on their experiences, challenges, and future plans, helping guide the County’s economic development priorities, programs, and services. 

Recent results are already making an impact. Feedback from the 2025 BR+E survey identified infrastructure and technology gaps as a key challenge for businesses, sparking the creation of the County’s Business Retention and Expansion Infrastructure and Technology Grant. 

“This is how we turn feedback into action,” says County Reeve Amanda McDonald. “We listen, we learn, and we respond with programs that support our business community.” 

The County has partnered with Ballad Group to deliver this year’s survey and analyze the results, ensuring a focused and strategic approach to understanding local business needs. 

“The insights we gather don’t sit on a shelf,” says Rory Tarant, the County’s General Manager of Corporate Services and Strategy. “They directly shape how we support businesses today and plan for the future.” 

Businesses may be randomly selected to participate and contacted by phone throughout the survey period. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. 

The County encourages businesses to take the time to share their input. Businesses that want to ensure they are part of the 2026 survey can also reach out to the County’s Economic Development team. 

For more information about the survey or to connect with the Economic Development team, please contact ecdev@countygp.ab.ca. 

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About Ballad Group 

Ballad Group is a Canadian consulting firm that works with municipalities, Indigenous communities, and organizations to support economic and workforce development. Their work focuses on business retention and expansion, labour market insights, and community engagement to help drive sustainable, long-term growth. 

Media Contact: 

Rory Tarant
General Manager of Corporate Services & Strategy
Ecdev@countygp.ab.ca
780-532-9722 

Amanda McDonald
Reeve, County of Grande Prairie
Communications@countygp.ab.ca
780-532-9722 

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