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Abbotsford

Abbotsford is recognized as the Hub of the Fraser Valley and is one of the fastest growing business centres in Canada. Situated in the south-western corner of the province of British Columbia, along the Canada/US border just 89 kilometres (55 miles) from the Pacific Coast, Abbotsford presents a unique value proposition for investors.

International companies looking to enter the North American market and domestic companies seeking a strategic gateway into the Pacific Northwest will all find what they are looking for in the City of Abbotsford.

Abbotsford Economic Development

32315 South Fraser Way, Abbotsford, BC V2T 1W7

Email: econdev@abbotsford.ca

Phone: 604-864-5586

 

Investment Advantages

Abbotsford is a city on the move – a growing, dynamic, and diverse community recognized by the Intelligent Communities Forum in 2019 as one of the Top 7 intelligent communities in the world. Abbotsford has a skilled workforce, with a median age of 37.9 years and over half of the population holding a post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.

The city’s transportation network provides affordable, highly efficient access to the whole of North America, the U.S. Pacific Northwest, and Asia Pacific. Home to a $3.83B agricultural sector, an international border crossing, a robust aerospace cluster and an emerging hub of tech industries, Abbotsford offers a unique advantage to a variety of markets.  

Agriculture and Agritech

Abbotsford is the Canadian hub for agri-business with annual agricultural activity amounting to $3.83 billion within Abbotsford, and over 16,000 full-time equivalent jobs. Our fertile soil, moderate climate, and abundant water supply are key factors – supported by effective planning and policy development to ensure industry strength. From milk products to composting; vertical agriculture to fast-growing flowers; Abbotsford’s agri-businesses offer creative ways for consumers to experience the latest in agricultural practices.

Advanced Manufacturing

Abbotsford is home to a diverse mix of manufacturing operations. With ready access to the region’s natural resources, agri-food processing offers many strategic opportunities to investors. The city is also known as innovators in clean tech, life sciences, and machinery production.

Aerospace

Located just 3 km from the Trans-Canada Highway and 6 km to the nearest border crossing to the United States, the Abbotsford International Airport (YXX) is home to 13 related companies with airfield access, in addition to an active commercial flight schedule.

Business Opportunities

Development Inquiry Meetings (DIM): The City of Abbotsford offers businesses and organizations an opportunity to discuss the details of your development proposal with key City departments at the city.  Learn more about DIM and request a meeting here.

Regional Hub Abbotsford is home to the following regional service facilities:

The Sitefinder is powered by technology from GIS Planning Canada and allows investors and businesses to research, analyze, export, and share demographic, wage, consumer spending, business, and industry data.

The City’s Economic Development team is privileged to partner with local business stakeholders:

Investment Opportunities

Abbotsford City Centre

Abbotsford is a young city with multiple historic centres, but no identifiable core… yet. The City Centre Neighbourhood Plan provides a new vision for a more populated, attractive, and walkable neighbourhood at the heart of our urban area, with potential for both office and commercial investments.

With its close proximity to Mill Lake and its strong employment base, the City Centre has the foundation and the potential to become a dynamic and complete neighbourhood.

UDistrict

The UDistrict Neighbourhood Plan is a community-driven vision of how the University of the Fraser Valley can continue to grow and expand a campus that will be integrated with the neighbourhood.

There is potential for a mixed-use centre in the surrounding area, supporting a vibrant community that is walkable and with numerous amenities.

Historic Downtown

Historic Downtown is considered by many as one of the ‘hearts’ of Abbotsford, characterized by small-scale, independently-owned businesses, which offer a unique shopping, dining and entertainment experience for locals and visitors alike.

The Historic Downtown Neighbourhood Plan offers more details on how new businesses can support a complete neighbourhood and city-wide destination.

Lifestyle

Abbotsford is home to 192 parks which cover more than 841.5 hectares of parkland and feature 276 kilometres of trails suitable for walking, running or cycling. It is estimated that 84% of residents live within 500 metres of a park. We are also home to a number of signature events each year, including the Abbotsford International Airshow which attracts more than 100,000 spectators for their three-day festival. The city sees over 150 outdoor events hosted each year.

Abbotsford is one of the country’s most culturally diverse communities with more than 50 languages spoken by our residents. 30% of our population is South Asian, which contributes to a strong Indo-Canadian business community in all sectors. The Abbotsford Indo-Canadian Business Association has been active for more than 30 years, supporting new entrepreneurs as well as existing merchants to nurture and grow their businesses. Learn More.