PHOTO CREDIT: JODY CHRISTOPHERSON

Invest in Elkford

Learn more about doing business in Elkford, a picturesque mountain municipality in the southeast corner of the Kootenays. Apply for a business licence, view land for sale or browse our business directory.

With pristine natural beauty, safe neighbourhoods, untapped outdoor tourism opportunities and the amenities and services of a much larger city, Elkford is the perfect place for growing families to settle and businesses to set up shop.

Natural resources is Elkford’s largest industry, with mining and forestry dominating the local economy. Elkford’s population reports a significantly higher income than the provincial average and along with a low cost of living, our residents enjoy a high quality of life, enviable work-life balance and plenty of disposable income.

Want to do business in Elkford? Apply for a business licence, view land for sale or browse through our business directory.

 

Why Choose Elkford?

What draws people to Elkford? It’s more than just the mountain lifestyle, beautiful scenery and abundant opportunities to earn big—it’s our community spirit. Ask anyone in the Elk Valley, and they’ll tell you that Elkford is the friendliest community around.

In addition to being filled with friendly, helpful and hardworking folks, several other trends are contributing to Elkford’s population growth, long-term viability and economic future as the perfect mountain paradise for its residents and businesses to thrive:

  • Our community is safe, healthy and clean—with low crime rates, crisp mountain air and 360-degree mountain views across town
  • Our population has significantly higher income than the provincial average, with a median household income of $110,379 (Statistics Canada, 2016), leading to plenty of disposable income to spend on retail, recreation, entertainment, dining and culture
  • Our community is reporting modest population growth related to mining employment
  • Our region is experiencing explosive growth thanks to the outdoor tourism industry, particularly in the neighbouring city of Fernie
  • Our primary industries anticipate long-term expansion
  • Our residents experience higher employment rates than in both the East Kootenay region and in British Columbia
  • Our development sector is seeing growth in mountain property and project investment from investors across North America, especially Calgary and Vancouver

Interested in purchasing land in Elkford?
Visit Land for Sale to see what the District has available.

Downtown Revitalization

We’re hard at work, turning the core of our mountain community into a place that you’ll want to invest in.

In 2021, council officially adopted Elkford’s new Downtown Plan. With the community’s feedback incorporated, the finalized plan presents our shared vision for a vibrant, economically diverse downtown that serves residents of all ages and abilities and entices development and visitors.

Read more about Elkford’s Downtown Plan

Key elements of this plan include:

  • Detailed redesigning of road and subsurface infrastructure
  • Surveying and subdivision to prepare prime development parcels for market
  • Adopting supportive policies for temporary and pop-up businesses
  • Updating our zoning bylaw for more flexibility and density
  • Tax revitalization incentives
  • Public space planning

Doing Business in Elkford

At the District of Elkford, we are committed to creating a supportive climate for economic development, diversification and growth in our community. We do this in many ways, including:

  • Membership in the Elk Valley Economic Initiative
  • Partnership with the Elkford Chamber of Commerce
  • Member of the Community Effects Advisory Committee, which monitors and mitigates the impacts of Teck’s temporary workforce accommodations
  • Regular meetings and support for local businesses, large and small
  • Adopting supportive policies for temporary and pop-up businesses

Ready to do business in Elkford?
Apply for a business licence, view land for sale or browse through our business directory.