Calgary Economic Development (CED) and the Government of Alberta are inviting businesses to boost their trade activity through a new province-wide program.
The program, dubbed Level Up, is a new initiative launched Tuesday that was designed to aid Alberta businesses in their pursuit of growth in new markets.
Level Up will be funded by the Government of Alberta and delivered by CED, and consists of on-demand online learning, expert workshops, and one-on-one mentoring. CED said that it builds upon their Trade Accelerator Program (TAP), which maps out a company’s export readiness.
Local entrepreneur, Matthew Lowe, CEO and Founder of ZeroKey, said that designing indoor location technology here Calgary is only one part of building a successful business. He touted TAPs success and believed that Level Up could continue to push the local economy forward.
“Earning the trust of a plant manager on the other side of the world was the other half. The Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) opened doors in Europe and Asia, helping us reach international customers faster than we could have on our own,” he said.
“Today, our technology runs on factory floors in more than 40 countries. Level Up is an exciting program that will help more Alberta companies bring local innovation to the global stage.
CED’s president and CEO Brad Parry said that businesses are being asked to navigate an increasingly complex trade environment.
“Level Up was built to give Alberta companies a clearer path forward to accelerate their international expansion – which also strengthens our economy here at home,” said Parry.
“When local businesses secure new customers, enter new markets or grow their exports, that translates into new investment, stronger revenues and more jobs in our community.”
Alberta’s Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration said on Wednesday that Albertans and their innovative ideas allow the province to compete on a global stage.
“Our government wants to see these businesses succeed because they are the job creators who keep Alberta the best place to live and work,” he said.
“That’s why we are investing in programs that help Alberta businesses reach new markets, grow their exports and unlock new opportunities.”
In 2025, CED helped local businesses secure 45 trade deals that generated $60 million in trade revenue across 21 countries on six continents.
The program is available to Alberta businesses across all sectors. It’s supported by the Business Development Bank of Canada, Jori Logistics, the Alberta Chamber of Commerce, Make More Creative and Top Draw.
