Projects

Rural Cluster Development Pilot 2022-2026

With support from PrairiesCan and the Government of Saskatchewan, SEDA worked with partners in rural micro-regions to strengthen industry collaboration and support long-term growth. Through research, business engagement, and regional planning, the project helped identify shared opportunities, address challenges, and build practical strategies for stronger local economies.

Phase 1 (2022–2023) – Opportunity Assessment

Economic analysis and business interviews helped identify regional strengths, opportunities, and barriers, creating a foundation for future cluster development. 

Assessment Report

Phase 2 – Mobilization 2023-25

Industry leaders, communities, and partners came together to explore priorities, build connections, and develop action plans to support regional competitiveness and growth within four microregions:

  • Boreal Region across northern Saskatchewan with firms active in the Forestry Sector
  • Iron Triangle Manufacturing Alliance in east central Saskatchewan with manufacturing firms active in metal fabrication and agricultural equipment and components manufacturing
  • Agri-Value processing firms in the Yorkton Region
  • Agri-Value processing firms in the Moose Jaw Region

 

Phase 3 (2025–2026) – Implementation Support

Thanks to funding from PrairiesCan and the Province, SEDA provided hands-on facilitation to help each cluster execute its work plan. Each cluster set out to achieve concrete outcomes in areas ranging from workforce development and infrastructure coordination to investment readiness and governance.

 

Pilot Outcomes

The Rural Cluster Development Pilot demonstrated:

Strengthened competitiveness of key rural industries through collaboration and scale
Four industry led rural clusters identified, activated, and advanced from mobilization into implementation, representing forestry, manufacturing, and agrivalue sectors across Saskatchewan

Increased labour force participation and readiness aligned to industry needs
Significant current and forecasted job growth identified and enabled through cluster action

Improved physical and utility infrastructure to support private sector investment
Cluster driven identification of infrastructure constraints progressed into concrete government commitments

Regions better positioned to attract domestic and foreign investment
Regional investment readiness strengthened by coordinated data, planning, and industry alignment

Increased Indigenous participation in regional economic development
Indigenous governments and enterprises engaged as active partners from early pilot through implementation

Durable, industry led governance models capable of sustaining momentum beyond public funding
Clusters progressed from facilitated engagement toward formal governance and sustainability models

Enhanced capacity to respond to external shocks and long term structural challenges
Clusters provided a collective mechanism to respond to market, trade, and climate pressures

Leveraged public funding through coordinated, multi stakeholder action
Public investment leveraged substantial private, municipal, and ecosystem inkind contributions

Stronger alignment between industry needs and regional support systems
Improved coordination between firms, communities, education, utilities, and governments

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