A new analysis shows that the Grande Prairie–Greenview Corridor in Alberta led the province in new home construction outside of major metropolitan areas last year, bringing a surge of potential new customers to local heritage shops. According to the County of Grande Prairie on February 10, 2026, there were 579 housing starts in 2025, which is a more than 60 per cent jump from the year before.
This growth is supported by more than $14 billion in planned projects currently moving forward across the region. To help manage this, the County of Grande Prairie recently changed the rules for land use in the Dunes neighbourhood south of the city to make room for more residents.
A larger local population is expected to bring more shoppers to long-standing businesses in the city core. This includes stores like Al’s News, which has operated out of a building from 1910 and has been run by the same family for over 60 years.
To support the growing population, the Grande Prairie Downtown Enhancements project is working to replace old water and sewer lines. This project, which is being done in several stages, also includes new street designs along 100 Avenue and 101 Street to modernize the area for new residents and visitors.
