Plans for the future and a look back at some of the progress made in the present were on the agenda when Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett delivered the annual State of the City Address at the Brandon Chamber of Commerce this afternoon.
During the luncheon, the Mayor touched on seven major attributes of life in Brandon and categories of the city’s plans going forward: sustainability, safety, population growth, downtown development, property taxes, Grow Brandon, and urban development.
In sustainability, the Mayor highlighted the city’s new level of federal and provincial funding, which had led to nearly 300 new residential units valued at $58 million, and an overall construction value exceeding $123 million in 2024.
The Mayor said a goal was to reduce property taxes over the course of a four-year budget. He also mentioned, in terms of safety, that Brandon and other municipalities are trying to get bail reform on the radar of politicians at the federal level.
For downtown development, the conversation centered on the Wheat City Pickleball and Tennis project and the acquisition of federal funds for housing initiatives. In regards to population growth, the Mayor noted the approaching milestone of 60,000 residents.
Grow Brandon, meanwhile, is a partnership that was initiated last year to unite entities such as the Chamber, the City, Assiniboine College, Brandon University, provincial and federal governments, Business Council of Manitoba, and Manitoba Chambers of Commerce, among other partners, all aimed at advancing
economic development.
Finally, in regards to Urban development, Mayor Fawcett highlighted the work being done in urban development projects, including southwest wastewater servicing and Brandon Transit system refurbishment, highlighting the City’s focus on core services and infrastructure.
The Mayor’s full speech is available on the city’s YouTube channel.
