Playing the Long Game: How Rural Communities Can Build Sustainable International Trade Programs

Date: Wednesday, September 16
Time: 3:00pm
Room: Salon A

Speaker:
Darren Brewer, Ec.D. – Economic Development Officer, City of Cranbrook

Description: International trade isn't just for major metropolitan hubs—rural communities hold specialized assets, niche manufacturing, and regional supply chain advantages that are primed for global investment. However, building an export strategy or attracting foreign direct investment in a smaller center is a marathon, not a sprint.

In this practical 40-minute breakout session, Darren Brewer (City of Cranbrook) will share real-world insights from Cranbrook's ongoing efforts to position itself as a regional hub and attract international aerospace and light-industrial opportunities. Attendees will learn how Economic Development Officers (EDOs) can launch, scale, and sustain a realistic international trade and investment program without overextending local resources. Drawing on Cranbrook's multi-year experience in industry attraction and regional asset mapping, this session breaks down the roadmap into five actionable phases—from auditing local capacity to maintaining council and community buy-in through long-term impact reporting.