Brampton links land and human resources for innovative infrastructure and business opportunities ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GTA suburb achieves international connections through local alliances Canadian Design and Construction Report special feature Fuelled by short and long-range plans, driven by inter- national investment opportunities through local alliances and recognized for ‘one of a kind’ industry, the City of Brampton’s economic development service brings busi- ness to the city and supports existing enterprises, in- creasing the city’s tax base and encouraging infrastructure development. The Toronto-area suburb has been debt free the past 10 years, carries a triple A credit rating, and has been designated by the World Health Organization as a safe city. Sohail Saeed, the city’s director of economic develop- ment and tourism, says Brampton was the only city in Ontario to receive the five-year safe city designation, and that it has been renewed until 2017. 50 – Fall 2013 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report The city has an abundance of land, expected to be de- veloped over the next 25 to 50 years with corridors for upscale housing, knowledge-based business and com- pany headquarters. “We have several thousand acres of employment land to work with,” Saeed said. “Loblaws has established their headquarters here, the Air Canada Control Centre is here and Canon is relocating here. Our Mount Pleasant Village has won several urban awards as one of the best places to live and work.” Saeed says the city is representative of people of eth- nic diversity living in harmony. This diversity benefits the city in many ways, including strategic alliance opportuni- ties. ‘We’re part of the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA) who we travel extensively with. We are also a partner with the Indo Canada Chamber of Commerce, which connects us to markets in India, with the Confed- eration of Greater Toronto Chinese Business Association, and with the Italian Chamber of Commerce of Ontario.”