At the County of Brant Council meeting on April 6, 2010 a new Brant Economic Development Strategic Plan has been supported by the County. With the assistance of a grant from the Federal Southwest Community Adjustment Fund and other partners: Brant Federation of Agriculture, Brant Jobs and Workforce Planning Board of Grand Erie, the County retained WCM Consulting to develop the plan and it has been a work-in-progress for nearly five months. It features key strategies to further develop Brant’s goals of job creation and prosperity.

“This is an exciting time for Brant,” says Mayor Ron Eddy who has been in support of developing a plan since it was proposed in October. “This plan focuses on key areas for improvement as well as forging closer relationships with the private sector."

Prior to the presentation of the plan, WCM sought input from various community stakeholders, fielded phone calls, emails and held a sessions to understand concerns and solicit ideas for the plan. “In many ways the work has just begun,” said Eric Rowen Manager of Economic Development & Tourism for the County. “Now that we have established strategies, the key to success will be in the implementation of the recommendations”.

The coming months will see Economic Development and Tourism staff create an implementation plan to move the recommendations from paper into action. It is anticipated that one of the first implemented recommendations will be the creation of a Brant Economic Development Advisory Committee. The Advisory Committee will help forge a closer working relationship with the private sector towards achieving economic prosperity in Brant.