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close to major transportation highways so is convenient to get to — — and from, has a relatively low cost of living and offers a strong labour pool of good employees. Brandon is a farm-based community with hard-working people.” And, according to Lepper, the City of Brandon strives to make it — Community Gardens — — an attractive place to do business. “Whenever we’ve looked to the city or Economic Development Wall of Rememberance for help, they have been very supportive of our needs,” he says. — “They are always looking for ways to help us – be it working with Brandon National Aboriginal Day new employees to help them get settled to making them feel at home with welcome packages.” Advanced manufacturing is a subject with which Behlen IndusHousing - Rosser Avenue East tries is already familiar – and one that Lepper believes is key to future growth of both the company and the city. “We’ve been heavily in modernizing our manufacturinvesting - ing facility with robotics and customized engineering software,” he says. “It’s the only route forward to us. Our focus is to be a pio - neer in-- the steel manufacturing industry. And I believe that once Multiculturalism Summer -- Festival - we get enough companies in the area working along those same Thursday’s By - The Waterfall, lines, that advanced manufacturing will become an industry unto Global Market - -- -- Music Series its own; one that will feed itself. Nothing stays the same for very (Above, Right) - long and manufacturing is no different. Steel may be an old prod- - -- -- uct but way we manufacture it continues to evolve.” the
CELEBRATING
BRANDON 2000-2015 -
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A new city The new Prosperity by Design plan has been well received by the community. Many recognize the need – and value – in having this - -- -- type of framework upon which to build future growth. “We’re a growing city,” says Jordan Ludwig, president, Brandon - -- -- Chamber of Commerce. “And to date, we’ve been growing in a few different directions with no real plan of where we’re going. I think growth in itself is good but without a plan like this, things can happen haphazardly.” BDO’s Birkhan refers to the new plan as a good beginning – with more work needed. “I think the Prosperity by Design plan is a very important first step,” he says. “The plan by itself is an analysis. It’s information, not an action plan to getting things done. The plan is a critical first step but we now need to develop an action plan to complete the process and create results.” Ludwig is also calling for “boots on the ground” to get the plan moving forward. “Until we formalize a plan of how we’re going to tackle things, it’s just a marketing plan,” he says. “We need boots on the ground to get things moving. And we need business, the community, the city and the province to buy into it in order to succeed.” MIKE CASSELLS Service Centre Manager And, by all appearances, it would appear that the new Prosper204-726-0283 ity by Design plan is certainly generating enthusiasm. 204-570-2326 “From my eyes, there is a new energy in town,” says Ludwig. 204-726-0784 “People are a little bit more aggressive in chasing after growth. mike.cassells@canadianlinen.com 398 Park Ave. East We’re focused on building a bigger and broader economy. With www.canadianlinen.com Brandon, MB R7A 7A8 that comes population growth – which is good for the city and good for the economy.” •••
410-9th Street • P: 204-729-2496 • F: 204-729-0101 • www.bnrc.ca -- --
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••• Brandon Business Review ••• 2015