Economic Development

Located along the ridged landscape of the Niagara Escarpment and the sparkling shores of Georgian Bay, the Town of The Blue Mountains is located two hours northwest of the GTA. The Town is the 2nd fastest-growing community in Canada and is home to over 9,300 full-time residents, with an extensive part-time and seasonal population.

Recognized as Ontario’s true four-season tourism and recreation destination, The Blue Mountains welcomes an additional 2.5 million visitors annually and offers a high-quality lifestyle that caters to families looking to build a solid foundation, adventurers looking to go off the beaten path and relaxation seekers taking in and experiencing the very best the area has to offer.

Built on a strong foundation of agriculture and tourism, the success of the local economy has been driven largely by innovation and entrepreneurship across the sectors of agriculture, tourism, construction, small business and hospitality and service. The community has various business and commercial hubs including the Blue Mountain Village, Thornbury and Clarksburg, with businesses throughout the community in areas such as Craigleith, Heathcote, and Ravenna.

The Town’s Economic Development Office is available to help guide and connect entrepreneurs, business owners and operators to the strong network of local business resources and support available in South Georgian Bay.

The Economic Development Division at a Glance

• Work with the Economic Development Advisory Committee to ensure business input and feedback in the implementation of strategic initiatives is incorporated;
• Develop partnerships to promote and sustain local and regional economic prosperity;
• Meet with entrepreneurs and business owners to support their business start-up/growth and connect them with local resources, networking opportunities, and business supports;
• Provide information for available government grants and programs;
• Assist in identifying current location opportunities and navigate planning, development and business approvals;
• Provide data, economic indicators and statistics relating to The Blue Mountains; and Implement and support strategic programs and initiatives to support the local business community.

The Economic Development Strategy aims to facilitate business growth and success by leveraging strategic partnerships, investing in community development, enhancing the quality of life and mitigating economic risk factors. The 2026 update of the strategy is currently underway.

View 2021-2025 Strategy

The Town of The Blue Mountains 2025-2030 Destination Strategy defines a unique, adaptive approach to Destination Management and Marketing, which aligns community and industry needs with research and innovative practices.

Read the Strategy

What makes  The Blue Mountains such a great place to live and own/operate a business? Take a look at the Town's Community Profile. 

View the profile

Every two years, the Town's Economic Development Team conducts a local business survey to gain feedback from businesses throughout the community.

The survey results are used to gain insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the business community and to ensure that the Town's Economic Development Strategy continues to meet the needs of businesses and support the overall economic development goals of the Town.

View the 2022 Business Survey Results