JEDI in 2017: A Year in Review

2017 was an impressive year for us at JEDI and the beginning of a new year seems like the perfect time to think back and let you know what we have in store for 2018.

 

We started 2017 off strong with our attendance at FarmTech in Edmonton. Farmtech is Canada’s premier conference for crop production and farm management and 2017 marked the first time JEDI attended the event. This conference presented a good opportunity to maintain knowledge on current agriculture industry challenges and opportunities. It also contributes to further engagement in the agriculture feedstock and processing industry, one of the region’s two primary target sectors.

 

JEDI then attended the Alberta Beef Industry Conference in February in Red Deer. This is the first time JEDI attended this show which presented a good opportunity to maintain knowledge on current provincial cattle and beef challenges and opportunities. It also contributed to further engagement in the agriculture feedstock and processing industry, one of the JEDI region’s two primary industries.

 

In March 2017, JEDI attended the China International Petroleum & Petrochemical Technology and Equipment Exhibition in Beijing, China. JEDI had a full booth space within the Canada Pavilion at the event, which helped raise the region’s profile among investors specifically looking for Canadian-based companies and opportunities.

 

This was the second time JEDI participated in the show to help create regional brand awareness and source incoming direct investment. China is one of JEDI’s three key markets that actively look for foreign investment in the petroleum industry, as such, the show directly aligned with our goals of attracting more players in the oil and gas industry.

 

In April, JEDI hosted a Hemp Farming Lunch & Learn to discover new cash crops with possible higher profit potential in the region. Hemp is still a hot topic in Canada. As such, the JEDI Lunch & Learn shared valuable information from a Hemp farmer in the region, along with Hempco Canada about their new production facility in the area, and senior researcher from Innotech Alberta. As with most Lunch & Learns hosted by JEDI, this session was free for farmers and growers in the Wetaskiwin region.

 

 

 

April was also a historical month for our organization. It was the month when we introduced our new logo. The new JEDI identity celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit of the organization, while focusing on the competitive advantage offered to businesses in the region. With its bold and modern look, it encompasses the excitement of the JEDI region and showcases its dynamic, professional opportunities.

 

In May, JEDI also attended the Edmonton Real Estate Forum for the third time. Since one of JEDI’s main goals is to help increase the region’s industrial development, the forum was a great opportunity to create awareness about the JEDI region among the industrial real estate and development community.

 

As part of the JEDI rebrand, we launched our new website in June which reflected the look and feel of the new logo. The website got a newer, cleaner rehaul and clearly laid out the valuable information to help investors and partners find the resources they need.

 

In September, we began our thought leadership series on our website through the JEDI monthly blog. This was an opportunity to provide our partners with information about what we do and highlight some of the benefits of doing business in the region.

 

November marked the first time we were able to share the story of a local business and one of the largest employers in the region, CO-OP. This is a new initiative that we would like to continue into 2018 so if you and your business would like to be featured, please contact JEDI directly.

 

With all the activities in 2017, we were able to contribute to our three pillars for the year: Increase Industrial Development Opportunities in the JEDI Region, Business Attraction and Business Retention and Expansion. In 2018, we are looking forward to more changes and growing the region’s business opportunities. Our dedicated partners are committed to working together to continue growing the region and understand that prospects for Alberta are ripe.

 

According to Joe Ceci, Alberta President of Treasury Board and Minister of Finance, “Alberta’s economy has returned to growth.” JEDI is looking forward to being a part of that growth in 2018 to serve its partners, businesses and investors!

 

From all of us at JEDI, we wish you a very prosperous New Year in 2018!