“Once you lose those entrepreneurs, it’s hard to get back.” Looking to the future, the focus is on enhancement. CAO Sonya Watson confirms the municipality is “always looking at community improvements each year,” actively seeking grants for downtown beautification. A major catalyst is the upcoming 2026 Walkerton Homecoming, the community’s 155th anniversary. “It’s a cherished time for those who have left the community to come back, meet with their neighbors, friends, and family,” Watson explains, noting the event will feature family-friendly activities, sporting events and fundraising that reinvests dollars directly back into the community. BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Brockton is backing its economic confidence with substantial capital investment and strategic planning, directly addressing the foundations of growth from housing, commercial space, and enabling infrastructure. HOUSING ACCELERATION Brockton’s staff secured a significant competitive advantage by successfully accessing the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. “We’re one of the only small towns in rural Ontario to get up to $3.4 million to incentivize builders,” says Peabody. This fund is already translating into tangible projects, with a 65-unit apartment building and a 40-unit non-profit affordable housing project underway. “In the next year, we’ve got 104 units alone coming on the rental market, which will appeal to all income groups,” Peabody states, expressing pride in this inclusive approach. These projects represent significant progress toward the municipality’s ambitious target of building 400 new housing units within four years, putting them approximately a third of the way to their goal. THE EAST RIDGE BUSINESS PARK The East Ridge Business Park is the physical epicenter of Brockton’s growth strategy, embodying 75 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 11 MUNICIPALITY OF BROCKTON, ON
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