Salmon Arm: Where Opportunity Meets Community

Credit: City of Salmon Arm

A Small City with Big Ideas
With more than 130 high-tech companies, Salmon Arm is a hub for technology and innovation. Recognizing the exciting growth potential within this sector, Salmon Arm Economic Development Society (SAEDS) launched the Salmon Arm Innovation Centre Powered by SASCU in 2018. A co-working space and business accelerator, the Innovation Centre supports new start-ups, remote workers and growing businesses that have a connection to the high-tech sector. It is also home to a community maker-space that offers public access to 3D printers, a laser cutter, sound studio and other spaces designed to ignite interest in technology as a career option.

An Ideal Location
It’s not just access to hundreds of kilometers of pristine shoreline that makes Salmon Arm a great place to live and do business. The city is located almost exactly midway between Vancouver and Calgary, right on the Trans-Canada Highway, which makes proximity to provincial, national and international markets one of Salmon Arm’s many competitive advantages. In addition to a small regional airport, commercial air service is conveniently located just over an hour away in Kelowna and Kamloops.

Credit: City of Salmon Arm

A Growing Population
Salmon Arm has seen significant inflow from larger urban centers over the last four years. The number one buyer market for new residents coming into the community is young families arriving from the Lower Mainland. The majority of newcomers have been first-time home owners, supporting the city’s goals for workforce attraction. Since 2017, Salmon Arm has seen record-breaking years for building permit value, with significant growth in residential housing construction.

A Thriving Start-Up Community
From Salmon Arm’s Top 20 Under 40 program to the Shuswap Launch-a-Preneur competition and the new Zest Commercial Food Hub, Salmon Arm is buzzing with supportive programs and infrastructure for individuals making their mark or getting their start in the business world. There’s never been a better time (or place!) to take the next step on your entrepreneurial journey.

Fast Facts:

• Salmon Arm is home to more than 130 high-tech businesses, supporting a workforce of over 1,000.
• Salmon’s Arm’s employment share in food and beverage manufacturing and processing is three times the Canadian average. SAEDS recently launched the Zest Commercial Food Hub including access to shared-use space, equipment and knowledge to support the growth of food processors throughout the region.
• Business Services accounts for 10% of Salmon Arm’s workforce, this growing sector supports the City’s reputation as a regional center.
• Salmon Arm is a participant community in the Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur Immigration Program