Offering business incentives and support, the Town of Cochrane is an attractive spot for startups, scale-ups, and established companies.
The Town of Cochrane is one of the fastest growing communities in Canada. 2024 municipal Census data reports Cochrane’s population as just over 37,000, more than triple of that in 2001. Cochrane is poised for more growth in the years ahead and here’s why.
Cochrane’s proximity to Calgary, an international airport, and key transportation corridors, plus low barriers to entry and plenty of support, make it an ideal location for business and entrepreneurship. It’s also a great place to live, with plenty of high paying jobs, beautiful scenery, quality schools, and a vibrant historic downtown.
Good things start in Cochrane
While not top of mind as a strategic business location, Cochrane has been an industry and innovation hub for over 75 years. Many companies with local roots have gone on to achieve international success, including Garmin Canada, a leading technology developer, known worldwide for its sports watches and wearables. Garmin’s choice to maintain and expand its headquarters in Cochrane speaks to the Town’s capacity to nurture entrepreneurial ventures at all stages.
Cochrane continues to support industry startups and entrepreneurs by creating a business-friendly economic environment which includes no business tax, competitive costs, and a skilled workforce.
Cochrane continues to support industry startups and entrepreneurs by creating a business-friendly economic environment which includes no business tax, competitive costs, and a skilled workforce. These efforts are paying off as Cochrane boasts a five-year average business retention rate of 93 per cent, with 2,361 active licenses and 460 new business launches as of July 2025.
From startup to scale
As part of its commitment to foster innovation and strengthen relationships with existing businesses, Cochrane is in the process of developing a new Economic Development Strategy for the next 10 to 15 years in alignment with Envision Cochrane 2050. Cochrane also has an array of new business programs designed to meet entrepreneurs where they’re at and support them in their journey — from idea to scale.
One is the SMARTstart entrepreneurial training and development program designed by Community Futures Centre West and delivered in partnership with the Municipality. SMARTstart is designed to help new entrepreneurs survive the crucial early years by providing mentorship, networking, online training, and in-person workshops with local experts.
The other is The Engine Room, Cochrane’s Business Incubator for startups that are ready to grow and scale. The Engine Room connects entrepreneurs to experts and resources to help build, scale, and grow in Cochrane.
With an already established industrial base, a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem, and new sectors like film, energy, and manufacturing coming on board, there is a wealth of opportunities to be had in this picturesque town east of the Rockies.
Whether you’re looking to start a business, find a job, or invest, learn more by visiting cochrane.ca/business-innovation.
