Brampton Supports Local Growth. Message from Mayor Brown appears in Economic Report inside The Globe & Mail.
Over the past couple of years, Brampton has been in the midst of a deliberate, significant and thoughtful transformation to support local economic growth and to become an optimal investment location.
As Canada’s youngest and second fastest growing city and Canada’s only big city to deliver a tax freeze two years in a row, we have so much to offer potential investors. Our 2020 budget included our largest-ever annual contribution of $110 million to the City reserves, strengthening our financial position.
Brampton Feature Inside Globe & Mail. Mayor’s Message Continued Below:
Brampton’s diverse workforce represents over 230 different cultures speaking 115 languages. Brampton has the lowest average age in Canada (36 years) and we have access to a highly skilled talent pool of 4.3 million across the GTA. Our central location within Canada’s Innovation Corridor and our connectivity provide companies with quick and easy access to international markets. Brampton is right next door to Toronto Pearson Airport, connected to all of the major highways in the province, and has the largest CN Intermodal in the country to ship goods all over the world. We are ready to welcome investors, entrepreneurs, students, businesses.
We have made significant strides in the past year to move our city forward. From launching our Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) strategy in 2019 to bring global investment to Brampton, to making several important additions to our growing and evolving Innovation District in downtown Brampton including the opening of Canada’s first Cyber Security Accelerator, we have been transforming to make great things happen and move our City into a vibrant future.
2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, and Brampton is no exception. Of course, our efforts since March have been largely focused on keeping our community safe and healthy and helping our residents and businesses deal with the impacts of COVID-19. Despite the impacts of COVID, our key sectors have remained strong. In fact, our logistics and food and beverage manufacturing sectors have contributed to keeping our country fed and supplied with the necessities throughout the pandemic.
Brampton boasts a growing cluster of life sciences and healthcare companies, with over 800 health sector businesses and agencies including Medtronic, Taro Pharmaceuticals and Dynacare, employing over 12,000 people. This sector is critical in developing new technologies in the health care industries that can help global recovery and future resilience.
Brampton also has a thriving food and beverage sector supported by industry-leading technology, top-quality products, and a rich agricultural tradition. Brampton’s food and beverage sector is a one-stop shop complete with food testing, processing and packaging facilities as well as transportation, packaging design, equipment and refrigeration storage, all within the City. Brampton is home to top employers like Loblaws (HQ), Maple Lodge Farms, Italpasta and Coca-Cola Bottling .
Brampton’s continuous and high level of construction investment has created jobs. The number of new businesses in Brampton increased by 5 per cent in 2019 for a total of 74,000 businesses in our City.
At the onset of COVID-19, Brampton introduced innovative new processes and tools to allow development projects to advance during the COVID-19 pandemic, while protecting the health and safety of residents and employees. Despite the pandemic, the City issued 34 per cent more permits in March and April of this year than during the same period in 2019.
Of course, business retention and expansion continues to be an important focus for Brampton. We greatly value our existing businesses like MDA, manufacturer of the Canadarm, FCA Canada and Canon Canada.
Brampton has a lot happening, and that’s just how we like it! I have no doubt that we are putting the right conditions in place to make Brampton a sought after investment location. As we evolve and transform, all of the pieces are coming together to continue to position Brampton for a strong economic recovery and a bright, successful, dynamic future.
We are ready and eager to welcome you to Brampton – to invest, learn and prosper in our City. Come and see for yourself – you will be impressed.
Brampton means business, now. The time to invest is now.
Patrick Brown, Mayor of Brampton
