Goal

A small municipality of 415 people in north central Alberta, the Village of Clyde reflected a need to attract and retain new residents and skilled workers, create economic growth, and inspire a high quality of living in the community for future generations via a comprehensive branding and marketing strategy promoting the region’s diverse economic opportunities, urban amenities, and its quiet village lifestyle.

Situational Analysis

In addition to its potential and existing opportunities, which includes the rare find of underdeveloped land in Clyde’s core area, and vacant lots in its adjoining neighbourhood with the capacity to bring business conceptions to fruition along the village’s main street, the Village also wished to explore its history as a pivotal stopping point on the historical Athabasca Landing Trail.

Unfussy Recommendations

• Focus on the encouraging, incubation, and support of local entrepreneurship (ie, temporary farmer/craft markets and booths, home-based businesses) and the attraction of small business (convenience stores, repair shops, etc.) to the community through commercial development opportunity (inexpensive lots, village-owned or developer-purchased vacant properties, and/or the preemptive build of new leasable commercial space).
• Consider land purchases / development / strategic partnerships with key developers for larger business / industry investment attraction (ie, drive-in movie theatre, development of agri-hoods and agri-tourism, greenhouses / agriculture / meat and agricultural processing plants / agri-food manufacturing facilities).
• Consider a downtown business plan and multi-use zoning conductive to such local commercial enterprises as eclectic pop-ups, encouraging walkability and attracting younger families and consumers seeking specialty retail and unique and personable, “mom & pop” shopping and dining experiences “off the beaten path.”
• Promote beautification efforts, “walkability,” and interesting community gathering spaces – especially along “main street” to plant the seeds for a downtown community sector.
  Leverage and promote its status within the larger Westlock Economic Region Partnership for greater community awareness and external exposure.

The Village of Clyde is something to write home about…if its people weren’t already there: A nightly resting place with easy urban amenity access for those suffering the work and traffic grind of the Edmonton area; and safe and quiet country lifestyle living central to the fertile crop and cattle fields of the Westlock County Region and gateway to the rich oil fields of the North.

More than just a stopping point however, Clyde is a starting point for new business ventures and adventurers from home-based independent to aspiring entrepreneur, to innovative agriculture and energy workforces. The most affordable small community in the region, boasting big lands and even bigger opportunities to grow family and craft with low costs of living and operations.

Rich in opportunity and history, the Village of Clyde brand story writes in part:

“Those who first settled here recognized our vast potential for growth and prosperity, including our namesake, a key business owner and our community’s first postmaster. In his tradition of connecting people and place through the sharing of information and ideas, and hopes and dreams via heartfelt conversation or letter, we urge others to stay here in the Village of Clyde and Stay in Touch…with your friends and neighbours…with recreation and nature…with the attainable reality of home and business ownership…with the promise of simple, yet vibrant living…and with deep peace of mind and soul such as you’ve only ever read about…”