BDDC appoints Emmanuel Ahaneku as new executive director

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This article was published 17/11/2023 (784 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The board of the Brandon Downtown Development Corporation has appointed Emmanuel Ahaneku as its new executive director.

The appointment was confirmed by Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett, who expressed confidence in Ahaneku’s capabilities and the promising future he foresees for downtown Brandon under his leadership.

“We have high expectations for Ahaneku because he has been sort of working in the position and he was involved in the organization previously,” Fawcett told the Sun. “He is out there working hard. He’s got a clear objective of what he’s trying to do and I find him to be very good to work with.”

Fawcett said the impact of this strategic appointment will be seen on the local business landscape, as some companies will be starting operations in downtown in the next couple of weeks. “He knows what needs to be done and he’s working towards driving more commercial industry downtown.”

Ahaneku told the Sun that he aims to lead the BDDC toward a more vibrant and resilient downtown area.

“Our primary vision is to drive the revitalization of downtown Brandon by identifying and encouraging investment and redevelopment opportunities,” he said. “We will reinforce efforts to facilitate partnerships and collaborations with all stakeholders focused on building a better, stronger, and more resilient downtown.”

Recognizing the major role of economic activity, the new executive director said the team plans to leverage public funding and partnerships to catalyze private investment, create and maintain jobs, support existing businesses, and attract new ones to the downtown area.

“The success of any development corporation lies in the synergy and collaboration of all stakeholders,” he said. “We will continue to leverage our incredible relationships with the local community, business organizations, not-for-profit organizations, and all levels of government to expedite our strategic plan.”

He acknowledged that preserving the historical essence while introducing innovative changes stands as a pivotal challenge in downtown revitalization, but says he is set to strike a balance. “Through our various programs and activities, we will preserve and enhance the unique aesthetic and historical qualities of the downtown,” Ahaneku told the Sun.

In his approach to measuring the success of revitalization efforts, he detailed key metrics such as filling vacant spaces, job creation, increased sales for businesses, reduction in derelict buildings, and heightened pedestrian activities. These indicators, he said, will be compared with baseline data using an Anticipated Impact Measurement and Monitoring system.

“Reports will be periodically provided to different levels of government, agencies, businesses, and stakeholders,” he said. “Some updates will be on a need-to-know basis due to their sensitivity, along with inherent non-disclosure agreements in certain cases.”

Before his appointment, Ahaneku was the downtown program coordinator at BDDC.

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