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Investment Climate print

Brandon Investment Climate


Brandon is rated as the best municipality for small business in western Canada Based on a membership survey of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business. . We have no hidden surprises in our tax structure. Brandon remains as one of few cities that have chosen not to invoke a municipal business tax.

In 2011, Standard & Poor’s affirmed its issuer credit and senior unsecured debt ratings on the City of Brandon as AA- . The rating reflects the city's solid operating performance, a robust local economy and strong support from the provincial government. The stable outlook reflects Standard and Poor’s expectation that the city's economic performance will remain healthy.

Brandon can be categorized as a typical service centre for a large agricultural region. Brandon acts as the central trading centre for the entire western Manitoba region encompassing 38,850 sq km and a population of 180,000. In 2006, the Brandon labour market area consisted of 67 municipalities. Large numbers of employees choose to live in smaller communities or in a rural setting and elect to commute to work. Although an agricultural influence still exists, Brandon is also the education, health, retail, service and entertainment centre for the region.

Brandon’s central location is ideally suited for North American and global impact. Advances in transportation and technology have created an enormously enticing situation for the city’s 41,511 residents (2006 Census). Today’s communication tools are allowing our burgeoning business community the opportunity to explore new markets from the comfort of their own backyard.


Significant economic generators in Brandon
  • Farm fertilizer production
  • Manufacturing
  • Pork processing
  • Metal fabrication
  • Trucking centre
  • Federal, Provincial and Municipal government
  • Higher education – college and university
  • Regional retail and service provider, all categories
  • Regional centre for health care
  • Regional recreation and entertainment centre
  • Major event hosting – national and international calibre

Branches of nationally known firms
  • Behlen Industries
  • Cando Contracting
  • Inventronics (IVT)
  • Maple Leaf Consumer Foods
  • McKenzie Seeds
  • Meyers Norris Penny & Co
  • Canexus Limited
  • Koch Fertilizer Canada (formerly Simplot)
  • Saputo Foods
  • Wyeth Organics, a Pfizer Company

Brandon is a progressive community with a quality of life that must be experienced to be appreciated. Brandon’s economy is expanding with an eye to the future but with a firm grasp on why we enjoy living here. Ask any new resident to describe why they chose Brandon and you will hear these terms used frequently: opportunity, quality of life, value, competitive advantage, friendly and diverse.

Brandon’s reputation on the national and international stage as a city that can do it all was developed through a concerted community effort. Years of sound fiscal management, a competitive and cost effective manufacturing environment, a growing population, and a shared vision for the City’s future have all played a contributing role.

Brandon is home to a federal agricultural research station and there are more than 300 businesses that directly serve the agricultural marketplace. The Keystone Centre, a 400,000 square foot multi-purpose facility, is Western Canada’s premier ag related convention facility. There is a community college (over 1,800 full time students), a Manitoba emergency services college, a university (2,114 full-time students and 1,013 part time students) and private vocational schools to serve the region’s education and training needs.

CFB Shilo is located approximately 30 km from Brandon. It is a ground, artillery and mechanized troop-training base employing approximately 1400-1500 military and 438 civilians.

Based on 2006 census data:
  • The 2005 median total income for 15+years was $23,531, the average earnings for full time employees was $35,935.
  • The 2005 median family income was $60,167.
  • In 2006 there were 9,440 married or common-law families (550 more families than the 2001 census) with an average of 2.9 persons in married couple families and 2.7 persons in common-law couple families.
  • In 2006 there were 1,770 lone parent families (115 less families than the 2001 census) with an average of 2.5 people per family.
  • In 2006, there were 18,662 dwellings in Brandon (an increase of 1,912 dwellings compared to 2001 census data) of which 11,150 were owned (an increase from 2001of 830 dwellings) and 6,770 were rented (an increase from 2001 of 340 dwellings)
  • Brandon’s median age in 2006 was 37.0

    The Brandon Regional Health Centre has averaged 548 deliveries per year for the past ten years. The past five years, annual deliveries have exceeded 550. Annual deliveries appear below for the 1998/2009 fiscal years:

    1998/1999 – 424
    1999/2000 – 473
    2000/2001 – 544
    2001/2002 – 488    		2002/2003 – 544
    2003/2004 – 559
    2004/2005 – 565
    2005/2006 – 566    		2006/2007 – 649
    2007/2008 – 671
    2008/2009 - 677
    *Refers only to those babies born in the BRHC facility and does not include babies born en route, babies born in other hospitals and transferred here immediately after, or stillbirths.

    When considering all types and sizes of business, Brandon is home to approximately 2000 businesses. Brandon has an extremely active Chamber of Commerce with approximately 650 members. Brandon’s ratio of Chamber of Commerce members versus number of active businesses is one of the highest in Canada.

    Brandon is fortunate to have a varied economic base. While the agriculture community has a strong impact on manufacturing, products and services are diversified sufficiently to allow the economy to remain stable despite peaks and valleys in the farm economy. Brandon’s largest manufacturing employers include Maple Leaf Pork, Koch Fertilizer Canada, Behlen Industries, IVT, Canexus and Wyeth Organics.

    Brandon's annual building permits have increased steadily over the years. From 1984 – 1993 Brandon averaged 615 building permits each year. In 1994 and 1998 Brandon experienced a construction surge with permits exceeding 800 each year.

    2010
    BRANDON
    Number of Permits
    Dollar Value
    Residential
    583
    $50,158,831
    Commercial
    210
    $21,965,661
    Industrial
    39
    $5,157,044
    Educational/Institutional
    19
    $4,365,431
    Other
    4
    $345,160
    Total
    855
    $81,992,127
    2009
    BRANDON
    Number of Permits
    Dollar Value
    Residential
    569
    $44,684,871
    Commercial
    167
    $17,309,673
    Industrial
    47
    $4,785,794
    Educational/Institutional
    29
    $59,632,360
    Other
    10
    $6,199,200
    Total
    822
    $132,611,898
    2008
    BRANDON
    Number of Permits
    Dollar Value
    Residential
    706
    $49,781,616
    Commercial
    254
    $17,622,149
    Industrial
    33
    $13,189,316
    Educational/Institutional
    24
    $5,158,833
    Other
    12
    $409,500
    Total
    1029
    $86,161,414
    Brandon has recorded a steady increase in the number and dollar volume of MLS® residential sales in the past decade. 2008 was a record year for properties sold through the Brandon Real Estate Board’s Multiple Listing Service® System.

    Year
    Number of MLS® Residential Sales
    Year
    Number of MLS® Residential Sales
    2010
    1082
    2002
    836
    2009
    1007
    2001
    875
    2008
    1406
    2000
    813
    2007
    1129
    1999
    791
    2006
    1096
    1998
    744
    2005
    1056
    1997
    772
    2004
    948
    1996
    721
    2003
    878
    1995
    605

    There were 417new dwelling units added to the Brandon marketplace in 2009 of which 119 were single family units, 6 were two family units and 290 were multiple family units.

    New Dwelling Units, 1998 – 2009
    Source: Brandon & Area Planning District

    1998
    1999
    2000
    2001
    2002
    2003
    2004
    2005
    2006
    2007
    2008
    2009
    2010
    Total
    Single Family
    121
    48
    70
    60
    124
    150
    228
    170
    155
    169
    132
    119
    117
    1663
    Two Family
    34
    8
    4
    6
    4
    4
    0
    8
    6
    28
    8
    6
    6
    119
    Multiple Family
    23
    250
    26
    45
    111
    165
    63
    76
    233
    158
    228
    290
    100
    1688
    Totals
    178
    306
    100
    111
    239
    319
    291
    254
    394
    355
    368
    415
    223
    3470


    Brandon’s rental market remains extremely tight despite strong residential growth. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Spring 2010 reported a vacancy rate of 0.2%. Brandon’s vacancy rate continues to be among the lowest in the province.

    Apartment Vacancy (%)
    1999
    2000
    2001
    2002
    2003
    2004
    2005
    2006
    2007
    2008
    2009
    2010
    Bachelor
    3.9
    7.3
    1
    2.4
    2.4
    1.1
    0.0
    0.0
    0.0
    0.0
    0.0
    0.0
    1 Bedroom
    2.5
    1.8
    0.8
    1.8
    1.3
    0.9
    1.1
    1.4
    0.1
    0.3
    0.6
    0.4
    2 Bedroom
    1.4
    1.3
    0.6
    0.9
    1
    1.1
    0.9
    0.6
    0.2
    0.2
    0.1
    0.1
    3 Bedroom +
    0
    2.1
    **
    **
    **
    **
    0.0
    0.0
    1.7
    0.0
    0.0
    0.0
    Total
    1.8
    1.7
    0.6
    1.3
    1.1
    1.0
    0.9
    0.9
    0.2
    0.2
    0.2
    0.2

    The Brandon marketplace has approximately 1240 hotel and motel rooms. Historical annual occupancy rates for the Brandon market appear below.

    Year
    Hotel Occupancy Rate
    1998
    67.40%
    1999
    61.31%
    2000
    51.61%
    2001
    53.62%
    2002
    55.00%
    2003
    54.60%
    2004
    59.50%
    2005
    52.40%
    2006
    55.50%
    2007
    60.40%
    2008
    65.80%
    2009
    68.90%
    2010
    60.70

    The Brandon Regional Health Authority (BRHA) is responsible for all health care in the City of Brandon and serves as a regional referral centre for Assiniboine RHA. The Brandon RHA includes medical specialties; ambulatory care services; community based care services; diagnostic services; education program; in-patient services; mental health services; regional consulting programs; therapeutic services; supportive (funding/partnerships). In 2005 a major redevelopment of the Brandon Regional Health Centre valued at $58 million was completed. Currently, the Westman Regional Laboratory is in the midst of a $7 million dollar redevelopment project and in January 2008, the province announced another $20 million cancer care expansion project. Construction began on the lab project in June 2009 and the Cancer Care expansion is expected to begin in late fall 2009.

    Brandon boasts a committed and productive labour force. Annual unadjusted unemployment rates appear below. For 2009 year to day unemployment rates please contact the Economic Development Office at econdev@brandon.ca or 204-729-2132.

    Year
    Brandon Unemployment Rate
    1999
    5.9%
    2000
    4.6%
    2001
    3.1%
    2002
    3.1%
    2003
    3.8%
    2004
    4.5%
    2005
    5.4%
    2006
    5.1%
    2007
    5.1%
    2008
    3.0%
    2009
    4.0 %
    2010
    5.0%
    *Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey
    *Unadjusted Rates (%), 3 month moving average, due to an extremely small sample size, the numbers are estimates only.

    Union Presence
    The total union penetration in the City of Brandon including both the private and public sector is approximately 33% including a variety of unions.

    According to Manitoba Department of Labour and Immigration, industrial disputes that have occurred in Brandon throughout the past decade are few and are provided below. There were no work stoppages throughout 2002-2006. For more information on Manitoba work stoppages visit www.econdev.brandon.ca/union.
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