in Ontario and looking to see if they’d like to establish roots here in Bradford. Eventually, we will be a larger community, and if we can provide those secondary education opportunities right here at home, we certainly want to do that,” Mayor Leduc says. By offering education opportunities locally, BWG seeks to foster a sense of hometown pride among young professionals, making them more likely to settle in and invest in their community. ADDRESSING KEY INFRASTRUCTURE AND ECONOMIC NEEDS With a focus on residential well-being, Bradford West Gwillimbury’s growth strategy emphasizes the logistical necessities associated with it, namely supportive infrastructure and commercial activity. The town will invest $469 million over the next 10 years in key municipal infrastructure. Its key projects include expanding its wastewater treatment plant, a $90 million initiative, and a $30 million downtown revitalization project, which aims to transform Holland Street into a pedestrianfriendly hub while preserving its historic charm. There are more examples, but the centerpiece of these efforts is the Bradford Bypass, a provincial highway project poised to transform the town into a logistical hub for Ontario’s economy. This project is estimated to invest $28 billion in infrastructure across the region over the next decade. Bradford also offers a comprehensive Community Improvement Program (CIP) to incentivize new businesses to prepare for and engage with the upcoming infrastructure changes. “We have what we call a CIP program that helps with small funding, potential tax increment deferrals, grants, permit fees subsidies, and things like that,” Mayor Leduc says. With three tailored programs—industrial, downtown, and seniors housing CIPs—the town can ensure 75 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 01 BRADFORD WEST GWILLIMBURY, ON
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