Key sectors shaping Brandon’s investment outlook

Manufacturing, green energy, agriculture processing, housing and emerging technology are key sectors shaping Brandon’s investment outlook heading into 2026, the city’s economic development director says.

The Wheat City’s strategy is not driven by short-term investment targets, Gerald Cathcart told the Sun.

“The economic development prioritizes long-term growth over annual investment forecasts,” he said. “We focus on sectors such as food ingredients, chemical and metals manufacturing, biofuels and logistics, aligning our efforts with provincial and federal economic growth strategies.”

Those sectors, he said, play to Brandon’s existing advantages: a strong industrial base, access to raw materials, transportation links and proximity to agricultural production. As a result, the city continues to attract interest from companies looking for room to expand or establish new operations in Western Canada.

“Brandon remains poised as an ideal location for significant investments in key sectors like chemical and metals manufacturing, as well as food and value-added agriculture processing,” Cathcart said. “Our team actively engages with companies in these industries to promote investment in our city.”

That outreach also extends to related industries that strengthen Brandon’s overall economic ecosystem, he said.

“Additionally, we reach out to businesses in complementary sectors like logistics and transportation to bolster our industrial base and support growth in emerging green and bioenergy sectors.”

One of the most significant developments shaping Brandon’s investment outlook is the rise of green energy and bio-based industries. Cathcart said interest in the sector is expected to grow, driven in part by a high-profile project already underway in the city.

“We anticipate sustained interest in these sectors, particularly in green energy,” he said. “The recent collaboration between Teralta and Tokyo Gas on their pioneering project in Brandon, the first of its kind in North America, has significantly enhanced Brandon’s prominence in the green-energy landscape.”

That project, which uses hydrogen as a key raw material, has helped put Brandon on the radar of international investors and technology firms looking for scalable, real-world applications.

“This achievement opens up numerous opportunities for companies in the green-energy sector for years to come,” Cathcart said.

To support that growth, the city is also investing heavily in core infrastructure. With Brandon attracting both new businesses and skilled workers, demand for municipal services is increasing.

“With Brandon’s increasing attraction for both businesses and skilled workers, the demand for essential city services is on the rise,” Cathcart said. “In response, we are actively advancing our water and wastewater infrastructure projects.”

He said upgrades to the water treatment facility will do more than improve service levels for residents.

“The water treatment facility upgrade will not only enhance water quality but also boost our capacity to accommodate more businesses and households,” Cathcart said.

Beyond infrastructure, the city is working to remove barriers that can slow down or discourage investment, and the goal is to be “investment-ready” from the first conversation with a prospective investor, he said.

“From the outset of our interactions with investors, we are committed to providing comprehensive and customized information that meets their specific needs. Being investment-ready means an investor can say ‘yes’ with confidence because the sites, servicing, approvals, workforce and support are already lined up and evidenced — not just promised.”

From the business community’s perspective, Brandon’s investment outlook is closely tied to innovation, workforce readiness and major institutional projects.

Businesses will have to adapt quickly in 2026, particularly in the area of artificial intelligence, Brandon Chamber of Commerce president Jennifer Ludwig told the Sun.

“Artificial intelligence is a key topic for 2026 for the business community, but it is changing fast,” Ludwig said. “We need to embrace it and get on board or we will be left behind.”

She said the chamber plans to actively support its members as they navigate those changes.

“The chamber is planning on supporting the membership with AI in 2026,” Ludwig said.

Ludwig also pointed to federal defence spending as another catalyst for investment, particularly at CFB Shilo.

“Shilo is set to see growth from the federal government defence spending announcement,” she said. “I expect that there will be opportunities for Brandon chamber members to be a part of the next phase for Shilo.”

Within the city itself, Ludwig said several areas stand out as particularly strong for investment. Housing demand remains high, industrial land is ready for development, and institutional and downtown projects are gaining momentum.

“We have seen an increase in the need for housing as well as the response with development, and we expect that will continue in 2026,” she said. “The industrial development on Victoria Avenue East, east of 17th Street East, is shovel-ready to attract new opportunities.”

Continued revitalization efforts in the downtown core are also expected to make an impact in the city, she said.

“Downtown Biz has been successful in attracting new business and opportunities to the downtown core, and with the plans in place and momentum from 2025, we expect more good things to come for the downtown,” Ludwig said.

For new investors considering Brandon, Ludwig said the message from the chamber and the broader business community is clear.

“Brandon is a wonderful place in which to do business and is ready to accept new investment,” she said. “If you are engaged through opportunities such as the chamber of commerce, you will find that the Brandon business community is a progressive, results-driven group that works towards common goals, where success is achieved by everyone.”

» aodutola@brandonsun.com

» X: @AbiolaOdutola