Last August, Brantford City Council appointed a Downtown Brantford Improvement Task Force (DBITF) with the objective to make recommendations that the City and community partners could implement to improve the health, vitality and resiliency of the heart of our city. Since then, the Task Force served as a collaborative community forum in which various entities and organizations across business sectors and community agencies shared information and resources resulting in the development of the Brantford’s Downtown Priority Plan: A Community Vision for the City Centre.
At their City Council meeting held April 26, 2022, Brantford City Council approved the Priority Plan including a series of actions to:
- Better position the downtown as a safe, secure and welcoming environment for all residents and visitors
- Provide additional supports to vulnerable populations including individuals experiencing homelessness, those with substance use disorders, and persons struggling with mental health and addiction challenges
- Enhance tourism, arts, culture, music, entertainment and community events to attract more residents and visitors to the city’s downtown
Furthermore, Council directed that in the July 2022 meeting cycle, City staff provide a report highlighting preliminary actions and strategies that are either in progress or will be undertaken prior to year’s end. Council also directed that a comprehensive report detailing actions and costs to implement and support priorities outlined in the Priority Plan be provided in advance of the 2023 City Budget Estimates process and considered as part of City budget deliberations.
“I am very pleased that Council unanimously approved the Priority Plan and Community Vision for the city’s downtown that will guide our collective community actions moving forward,” said Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis. “I am also encouraged by Council’s foresight to lay the groundwork for a financial plan to ensure the proper resources are in place to implement priority actions within the Plan.”
