Pictou County Partnership FDI Strategy

PROJECT: Design of a Foreign Direct Investment Strategy for Pictou County (2024)

CLIENT: Pictou County Partnership

LOCATION: Atlantic Canada

PRACTICE AREAS: Investment & FDI Strategy, Regional Economic Development, Market & Competitiveness Analysis, Economic Growth Planning

REPORT: Summary of the  Foreign Direct Investment Strategy  for the  Pictou County Region (Attached to this RFP)

ATN Strategies was engaged by the Pictou County Partnership in 2024 to design a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) strategy that could move the region from general interest in investment attraction to a focused, opportunity-driven plan. Local leaders recognized that while Pictou County had strong assets and a skilled workforce, it needed clearer priorities and evidence-based targets to compete for global investment.

We began with a structured analysis of Pictou County’s economic base, infrastructure, talent pool, and comparative advantages. Using advanced data analysis and industry cluster mapping, we examined regional strengths against global and national investment trends. This work highlighted several high-potential sectors where Pictou County could credibly differentiate itself, including ocean technology, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, and sustainable aquaculture.

Engagement with regional stakeholders was central to grounding the strategy in local realities. We met with municipal and regional leaders, post-secondary and training institutions, employers, and sector organizations to test assumptions, validate priority sectors, and identify real-world constraints and opportunities. These conversations helped refine value propositions for each target sector and clarified what investors would need to see in terms of sites, supply chains, and talent.

The resulting FDI strategy provides Pictou County with clear target sectors, investor profiles, and priority markets, along with practical recommendations on marketing, partnership development, and aftercare. It outlines steps to align land use, workforce development, and infrastructure planning with investment goals, while leveraging existing regional strengths.

By combining rigorous analysis with local insight, ATN equipped the Pictou County Partnership with a focused, actionable roadmap to diversify the economy, attract new investment, support emerging industries, and build long-term, innovation-driven prosperity for the region.