Economic Development

What we do

We help government strengthen Canberra's economy and create a liveable city.

This includes working with:

• business
• industry
• education institutions.

We aim to create a vibrant community which attracts people to Canberra and keeps them.

Our main areas of focus

We work across 6 main areas:

• Investment and business development: supporting Canberra’s businesses and entrepreneurs. We help them grow local jobs and create economic activity. We also help connect Canberra’s business ecosystems to attract and support responsible investment in the ACT.
• Tertiary and vocational education: supporting efforts for a more harmonised university and vocational education and training system. We aim to increase the ACT’s skilled talent to meet current and future local workforce needs. This includes international student attraction. We work with the tertiary and vocational education sectors to identify future training requirements for the ACT economy. We also manage skilled migration to the ACT.
• Tourism and major events: attracting visitors to the ACT. We develop tourism marketing and industry development programs to promote Canberra as a global destination. We also deliver, support and promote key events for Canberrans and visitors.
• Arts and culture: supporting arts, culture and creative practices that reflect our community and which recognise the integral part that arts and culture play in our community and wellbeing of Canberrans. We work to increase the visibility of the sector and increase opportunities for the arts industry.
• Strategic infrastructure: planning for strategic economic development infrastructure, such as a new National Convention and Entertainment Centre.
• Major venues: managing and maintaining key venues as premier tourism and recreational attractions. This includes:
  • GIO Stadium
  • Exhibition Park in Canberra (EPIC)
  • Corroboree Group Oval Manuka 
  • National Arboretum Canberra
  • Stromlo Forest Park
• Sport and recreation: improving the wellbeing of Canberrans through participation in organised sport and recreation. This includes delivery and support of sports program, infrastructure and player pathways.

Strategies

• CBR2030 ACT’s Strategic Economic Development Framework: a strategy for the ACT’s economic development priorities.

Awards

• ACT Training Awards: acknowledges the achievements of the ACT’s vocational education and training (VET) sector.
• ACT Book of the Year Award: supports the development of ACT-based writers.
• CBR Sports Awards: celebrates the achievements of sportspeople, local clubs and volunteers.

Grants

Find grants funded by Economic Development.

Contact us