Invercargill is home to the Southern Institute of Technology, which has introduced a zero-fees scheme. The scheme was partly responsible for rejuvenating the city when it was in a steady state of population decline. However the major factor in Invercargill's regrowth is the dairy industrial boom of the 2000s (decade) due to an increased demand for New Zealand milk, cheese and butter. New dairy factories have opened around the province of Southland, as well as more efficient meat processing works and research and development facilities.
Invercargill is on the Southern Scenic Route (tourist road), allowing day trips to Queens town, Stewart Island/Rakiura, Dunedin, Te Anau and Fiordland.
As of 2008, there have been plans to develop wind power and hydroelectric schemes and plans to survey the Great South Basin for oil extraction
