Economic Development and Prosperity

 Learn more from our Strategic Initiatives Department by clicking here or visiting Invest in Brant

• Check out some statistics about the County of Brant's Skilled and Educated Labour force
• Learn about our diversified economy and the economic profile of the County of Brant
• See what kinds of incentives the County of Brant offers for community improvement and other economic development projects

A major factor influencing the future competitiveness of the County's economic base is the structure and quality of our Employment Areas (areas that are designated for industry and other employment uses by the Official Plan). In order for the County of Brant to continue to be competitive and attractive to a broad range of industrial and commercial sectors, the County needs to ensure that it offers a sufficient supply and market choice of municipally serviced employment lands. Most notably, this should include a diverse supply of sites in terms of location and size with good transportation access and proximity to major highway interchanges as well as other local/regional transportation infrastructure.

What areas of the County of Brant do you think would best suit these types of employment uses to be made ready for the growth of our employment sectors?

The County of Brant is home to approximately 700 farm operations and over 165,000 acres of farmland. Agri-business and food processing opportunities prove an opportunity to deepen our strong agricultural activities, encouraging productivity and flexibility in the agricultural economy. The agriculture and agri-food system encompass several industries, including the farm input and service supplier industries, primary agriculture, food and beverage processing, food distribution, retail, wholesale, and food service industries as well as other on-farm diversified uses.

The County also made some recent changes to our land-use policies to make it easier for farmers to diversify their operations. Check out www.brant.ca/OFDU for more information on this initiative. 
 

How can we promote farm-to-table opportunities for local food and agriculture while protecting our valuable farmland?

The County of Brant's 2019 Economic Development Strategy & Action Plan identifies tourism as one of the three key emerging industries in the County of Brant Economy. In 2019, it is estimated that $2.75 million in direct economic impact was seen as a result of visitors to the County of Brant. The focus of tourism is currently oriented towards those visiting for less than a day from surrounding regions. 

How can we promote tourism and local business while protecting our valuable resources like the Grand River, heritage buildings, and agricultural lands?

 The County of Brant, similar to the Greater Golden Horseshoe, is experiencing a labour shortage in a wide range of sectors. As we see the impacts of evolving technologies and automation, we need to consider how to promote highly skilled labour as a significant driver for the future of the County's economic growth. As innovation and new business models change and impact our economies, the County of Brant can use its new Official Plan policies to promote community foundations and learning, knowledge-based economic opportunities, and technological advancements that will benefit all residents of the County. 

What additional planning policies, tools, and incentives (if any) should be explored and potentially introduced to support the development of the County’s workforce?