Economic Development

County of Brant receives two Awards of Excellence from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario

On Wednesday, February 4th, County of Brant staff were recognized by the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) for work connected to the Downtown Dig — a collaborative project involving multiple County divisions and the Downtown Paris BIA — focused on supporting local businesses and the community during the reconstruction.

Each year, the EDCO Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding economic development initiatives from across Ontario.

The County is pleased to have received the...

Tourism Starts Here - Resident Sentiment Survey Reminder

If you live in the County of Brant, your perspective on local tourism matters.

We’re inviting residents to take part in a short Resident Sentiment Survey to better understand how tourism impacts our community — from quality of life to local benefits.

• Takes 5–8 minutes
• Confidential and anonymous
• One $100 gift card awarded locally

Visit brant.ca/TourismSurvey now to complete the survey before February 27, 2026.

Brant Eats returns to the County of Brant this February!

The County of Brant is excited to announce the return of Brant Eats, a celebration of the County’s vibrant food and drink scene that invites residents and visitors alike to experience the best local flavours that the community has to offer. 

“Brant Eats is all about celebrating our incredible local food community,” said Zach Gable, Director of Economic Development and Tourism for the County of Brant.  “Whether you’re a lifelong resident or visiting for the first time, this initiative is a great...

Tourism Starts Here - Resident Sentiment Survey

If you live in the County of Brant, your perspective on local tourism matters.

We’re inviting residents to take part in a short Resident Sentiment Survey to better understand how tourism impacts our community — from quality of life to local benefits.

• Takes 5–8 minutes
• Confidential and anonymous
• One $100 gift card awarded locally

Visit brant.ca/TourismSurvey now to complete the survey before February 27, 2026.

The County of Brant Celebrates Completion of 2025 Downtown Dig Construction Season

The County of Brant is proud to announce the successful completion of the major construction activities for the 2025 season of the "Downtown Dig" project in downtown Paris. This once-in-a-lifetime infrastructure renewal project, which occurs every 75-100 years, replaced critical underground infrastructure and transformed the streetscape to create a more vibrant, functional, and accessible downtown for decades to come.

"We made it, Brant! We are thrilled to have reached this significant milestone...

Paris Downtown Dig Update November 21, 2025

We made it!  The last week of the Downtown Dig for 2025!

Accomplishments for the final week:

• Winter site cleanup
• Streetlights power supply
• Hydro work:
• Secondary line – 100% complete
• Service connections to businesses - 100% complete
• Asphalt hard surfacing work
• Road markings - 100% complete
• Sidewalk, planter box, and brick work progress. Remaining areas to complete will be temporarily patched with asphalt
• Utility work 
• Trees have been delivered and planted in the planter boxes by the mid-block crosswalk

• All...

Paris’ Downtown Dig Update November 14, 2025

Downtown Dig construction season is wrapping up shortly!

Accomplishments this week:

• Winter site cleanup continues
• Streetlight posts installed. Coordination for power supply continues
• Hydro work:
• Secondary line to be completed by Friday, November 14, 2025
• Service connection to buildings to be completed this weekend
• Sidewalk on the east side of Grand River Street North - 70% complete
• Planter Boxes (east side) - form continues
• Brick work on the east side is 10% complete
• Brick work on the west side continues

Downtown Paris is really taking shape!

Downtown Paris is really taking shape! What happened this week

• Winter site cleanup commenced
• Streetlights were delivered, installation has begun and staff are awaiting power supply permit approval

Hydro work:

• • Secondary lines – 70% complete
  • Service connections to building – 70% complete
  • Road base gravel placement - 100% complete

• Sidewalk on the east side of Grand River Street North - 30% complete
• Planter boxes - forms commenced
• Brick work - 40% complete

Asphalt hard surfacing work:

• • Roadway base asphalt –...

The New Features in Downtown Paris!

As downtown Paris takes shape, let’s talk about some of the new features.

After many years of planning and consultation with the community, the decision was made in 2019 (when the Downtown Paris Master Plan was approved) in favour of creating a more pedestrian-friendly downtown vs a vehicle-friendly downtown.  The plan is now becoming a reality!

The width of the lanes on Grand River Street North:

The new downtown lanes on Grand River Street North look narrow right now.

The lane widths for the new...

Paris’ Downtown Dig Update – October 24, 2025

The Downtown Dig is truly taking shape!

The work is continuing to progress well.

Current update:

• Street light work conduit - 95% complete
• Hydro work:
  • vault work southeast of Grand River Street North and William St. - 100%
  • primary line - 95% complete
  • service connection to buildings - 30% complete (this is continuing to go slower than expected)
  • Road base gravel placement - 90% complete
  • East side curb - 95% complete
  • Landscaping:
    • soil cells - 100%
    • planter box - 40%

Next two (2) weeks:

• Street light work continues...