Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) focuses on existing businesses and builds a trusted working relationship with them in order to support their expansion plans. BR&E includes:
- Providing information on applicable government assistance programs, such as grants or funding.
- Helping local businesses access export markets. We can also make introductions to expert government agencies or Canada’s Trade Commissioners.
- Liaising with internal departments and external agencies to help mitigate planning or regulatory impediments to expansion plans.
- Introducing local business to support networks, potential suppliers and partners.
Economic development research shows existing businesses are responsible for most economic and employment growth in any community. They are businesses that have made investments in the community, contribute to the vibrancy and resiliency of the community, and provide employment and tax revenues that allow the community to grow and prosper.
Early in their term, Abbotsford City Council indicated through their 2022-2026 Strategic Plan that an updated Business Retention and Expansion Strategy was required for Abbotsford. A Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Strategy is generally considered to be one of the most effective economic development programs. This strategic approach focuses on working with existing businesses in the community and builds a trusted working relationship with them in order to support their continuing growth and future expansion plans.
As a goal of the updated Business Retention and Expansion Strategy, a comprehensive Business Visitation Program has been developed to help strengthen relationships and communications with the business community.
The Business Visitation Program includes:
- Business Visits
- Business Spotlight Visits with Mayor and Council
- Industry-Sector Bus Tours
- Business Walks
If you have questions about the Business Visitation Program, please email econdev@abbotsford.ca.
The City’s Economic Development team would love the opportunity to visit your business to learn how we can help support your ongoing growth.
Business Visits are a great opportunity to:
- Showcase your business, innovative new products, and services
- Discuss opportunities to help grow your business and industry
- Discuss obstacles effecting your business
- Connect you with business support organizations and helpful resources
If you are interested in hosting a Business Visit or have further questions, please email econdev@abbotsford.ca and a member of the Economic Development team will reach out and schedule a visit to your business.
Business Spotlights are two-hour visits by Mayor and Council with City staff to pre-selected businesses in Abbotsford. The goal of these visits is to provide the City with an opportunity to learn more about the business, the industry, their experience doing business in Abbotsford, potential challenges and to assist with growth opportunities.
View City Council’s Blog Posts to learn more about our recent Business Spotlight Visits.
Industry-Sector Bus Tours offer a unique way to showcase the contributions that specific industries and sectors make to our local economy. These day-long bus tours typically include four business stops. Attendees include local elected officials, media, City staff, industry representatives, business organizations and members of the public.
On October 3, 2025, the City of Abbotsford and Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce partnered to host the second annual Manufacturing Industry Tour. The day-long bus tour guided participants inside four local leading manufacturers: Longboard Architectural Products, Clearbrook Iron Works and Midway Wheelabrating Ltd., BE Power Equipment, and Tiger Tools.Save the Date: The City of Abbotsford and the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce are presenting the 3rd Annual Manufacturing Industry Tour on September 11, 2026. Stay tuned for upcoming stop details and ticket registration.
Business Walks are a standard economic development practice used to survey a large number of businesses in a specific geographic area.
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The Economic Development Table (the Table) is a network of organizations and other actors in Abbotsford who have a role, mandate and interest in local economic development. Its purpose is to build on collaborative work already taking place, increasing information sharing and identifying areas where we can work together.
Partners meet quarterly, with additional ad-hoc communication. Core partners share and collaborate between their respective organizations and the Table, and work to identify gaps and opportunities in the community.
Partners:
Core partners include associations, not-for-profit organizations, government agencies and Indigenous communities, including the:
- Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce;
- Abbotsford Downtown Business Association;
- Business Development Bank of Canada;
- Community Futures South Fraser;
- Fraser Valley Métis Association;
- Fraser Valley Indo-Canadian Business Association;
- Leq'á:mel First Nation;
- Màthxwi First Nation;
- Rotary Club of Abbotsford-Sumas;
- Semá:th First Nation;
- Stó:lō Community Futures;
- Tourism Abbotsford; and the
- University of the Fraser Valley - Faculty of Business and Computing.
Working Groups
Working groups are chaired by a Table member and consist of core partners as well as additional external and internal partners. Working groups meet monthly. The City of Abbotsford's Economic Development Department acts as the secretariat.
Current Working Group: Indigenous Businesses
The Indigenous Businesses Working Group works to address gaps in services, supports and opportunities for Indigenous businesses in Abbotsford and surrounding areas and helps ensure that First Nations’ perspectives are represented in Economic Development matters.
Barry