Changing the Narrative: Unlocking the Economic Assets of Niagara in a Changing World 

This report aims to shed light on Niagara’s evolving economy by investigating the opinions of local stakeholders. Drawing on interviews with policymakers and the private sector, it explores the opportunities and challenges that face Niagara’s regional economy, and the role that policy can play in encouraging economic development. The report finds that Niagara’s economy is at a turning point, and that stakeholders are eager to tell a new story that positions the region as the place to be for emerging industries at the intersection of agriculture, tourism, and advanced manufacturing. At the same time, growth in these industries is hampered by institutional, cultural, and political barriers. The report thus concludes by providing a series of recommendations for policymakers and other stakeholders within Niagara.

Nathan Olmstead, PhD
Charles Conteh, PhD

Brock University

September 2024