The government start projects with the aim of supporting its people get jobs. The tasks then boost the country’s economy by generating revenue. The government targets how the public will benefit from it. For years now, Canada has been in the realm of infrastructure development and talent nurturing. The government plan to make the District the center for innovation to develop talent in the young people.
Technology is the backbone of all invention and talent development (Media press release, 2020). Therefore, the government of Canada has put more emphasis on technology in this project. The ultimate objective is to help build and grow small businesses within Brampton. Several entrepreneurs and business incubators have joined this mega project. One of these partners is Brampton Entrepreneur Center which has focused on productivity and creativity.
Overview of the Project
Brampton’s Innovation District is a project started on Friday fourth, 2020. The project was later launched on Wednesday the following week. The city is aiming at investing in technology, business, and education by building an Innovation District. The funding is majorly from the government, which tends to spend approximately $20.5 million. Besides that, there will be an addition of $55.2 million, which the partners will fund.
From 2019 up to date, six partners have joined to help achieve this mission (Paul, 2021). These partners are Brampton Entrepreneurs Centre, BHive Brampton, the Ryerson-led Venture Zone, Altitude Accelerator, the Founder Institute, Algoma University, and the Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst Headquarters. However, Sheridan Edge, the Brampton Board of Trade, and Downtown Brampton BIA are the main partners. Together with the government, all of these partners have committed to support building the lives of millions of Canadian people.
Some of the key players in this significant development are Brampton mayor Patrick Brown and regional councilor Rowena Santos. The idea of innovation came when COVID hit and the town was hit hard more than rural areas. The pandemic showed the socio-economic inequalities that existed in urban Canada. Through these inequalities, these two people came with the idea of expanding green spaces, especially in Brampton (Kronfli, 2018).
Santos, who represents wards 1 and 5, says the adoption of technology will boost innovation. “The project concerns the environment, employment and urban centers, neighborhoods, transportation, social issues, health, and arts and culture,” says Santos. According to the regional councilor, the aim is to bring an integrated downtown plan which will focus on inclusivity, innovation, and sustainability. According to the mayor who pushed for the $21 million allocations, the project is a game-changer, especially for the people of Brampton.
Reaction to the Project
The project has hosted more than 3 288 sessions, workshops, and events that encourage innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship. These sessions are one on one business consultation, training, startup workshops, and cyber security campaigns. The District has hired over 49 employees up to the year 2021. In addition to this, BHive has engaged with 73 international startups since May 2021. In July, the city announced that Diamond Schmitt would be the architect for its Centre for Innovation, which will be located in the heart of Brampton’s downtown center and will support the city’s post-secondary institutions (Brampton University, 2017).
The approach will create a collaborative space that offers a centralized library and connectivity between institutions and local businesses. That means the Brampton workforce will be interconnected with skilled jobs in the future. Employment and Skills Development Canada awarded $1.9 million to Rogers Cybersecure Catalyst to support the expansion of the Cybersecurity Training Program.
Public debates have come up with the new development taking place at Downtown Brampton. The existing transport network does not support two-way service. That means, if the population increases due to the innovation startup, there will be congestion. On the flip side, the city council and the government can develop by building better roads before this. The other opposing debate is the limitation of the train during rush hour service (Clarrie, 2021). The GO Train service at the Brampton Station limits people on the Orange/ Brampton route during business hours (6 am to 5 pm). In terms of human capital, Brampton has low education levels.
Several people in this town have not gone beyond high school education. The project funders should invest more in real estate to cover the gap. Changing investment priorities and unpredictable timescales on transit upgrades may harm future growth rates and possible development activities within the industry. These critics were published by Downtown Brampton University and the Centre for Education, Innovation, and Collaboration.
Assessment of the Project
Through a trickle-down development model, the project creates regional development by creating resilience and competitive advantage to Brampton’s economy. This achievement is possible through advanced and long-term actions. However, the results are based on four cornerstones; Innovation, Technology, Entrepreneurship, and Arts. With trickle-down development, one significant investment supports the other below it (Akinci, 2018).
For example, when the project is completed and fully functional, it will provide support to local businesses at every stage in their growth journey. The Innovation District’s continuous development is a major activity in the Economic Recovery Strategy, and the Ryerson Venture Zone is an essential component of the District’s growth. A lot of investors will come forward to own a place when the project is completed. That is one way of motivating the business people who at one time might have lost hope due to the pandemic. With the trickle-down method of development, empowerment is possible. There will also be the creation of employment, as earlier illustrated in this paper.
With the investment being strategically in the middle of the city, Brampton gets an added advantage in terms of growth. The development of the town can also attract more investors and pressure for the development of infrastructure. The infrastructure right now in Brampton is predicted to be congested due to a high number of people (Gill & Noronha, 2019). When this happens, the government will be required to expand the road. The investors will also be forced to build more houses for the residents. The level of education in the city will increase due to the development of the library. The connection of skilled people with jobs will ensure steady growth and excellent revenue collection.
Conclusion
Brampton District was a forgotten town that was highly affected by the pandemic. Through the town mayor and the councilor, the city is set to grow in population and economy. A lot of people will be empowered through various channels to invest and contribute to the growth. With the adoption of technology and entrepreneurship, the town has been growing exponentially. Partners have come up to support the project both financially and through training. For example, BHive offered to train people on matters to do with Cyber security. A lot of youths in the region have been employed courtesy of Brampton Innovative District. In addition, young people have been trained on technology innovations, especially cyber security. The project has promoted arts to help those with a passion for art to pursue it.
References
Akinci, M. (2018). Inequality and economic growth: Trickle‐down effect revisited. Development Policy Review, 36, O1-O24.
Clarrie Feinstein, F. (2021). Everything you need to know about Brampton’s Innovation District. Web.
Downtown Brampton BIA (2020). Brampton’s Innovation District will advance economic recovery. Web.
Downtown Brampton University and Centre for Education, Innovation and Collaboration (2017). Economic Impact Statement, 95. Web.
Gill, M., Klassen, C. A., Liviero, C., & Noronha, N. (2019). Community Arts Programming in Southern Ontario, 70, 127.
Kronfli, C. (2018). About the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
Paul Barker, P. (2021). The transformation of Brampton. Web.