Brandon ranks in Top Three of Midwestern/Prairie Cities in Int`l Study

Brandon, MB – Continuing a multi-year trend, Brandon has, once again, appeared at the top of the charts as a very cost effective city in which to do business.

According to the Competitive Alternatives 2012 report released this week by international accounting firm KPMG, Brandon is ranked 3rd best for overall cost competiveness of the 32 Midwestern/Prairie cities studied, behind only Moose Jaw and Prince Albert. The study compared more than 110 cities around the world, 31 in Canada, and examined both business costs and other non-cost factors that influence investment decisions. Winnipeg, meantime, placed 5th in the same evaluation.

“The business case for investing in Brandon is very strong,” says Brandon Mayor Shari Decter Hirst. “Our city is centrally located in North America; we offer a motivated workforce, excellent infrastructure and as recently highlighted by Money Sense Magazine, a quality of life that is both enviable and affordable.”

The KPMG study looks at a wide range of issues when assessing competitiveness for business, with a primary focus on business costs. The study also looks at population and demographics, education and skilled labour, innovation, infrastructure, economic conditions, regulatory environment, cost of living, and personal quality of life. It further examines cost competitiveness of locations for different industry sectors including manufacturing, digital, research and development, and corporate services. Sixteen large Canadian cities were part of the primary study and another 15, including Brandon, were also researched and benchmarked on a comparable basis.

“The availability of an educated workforce, as well as lower land, energy and labour costs means businesses looking to expand or relocate their operations will continue to take a serious look at Brandon,” adds Gerald Cathcart with Economic Development Brandon. “Combine these with an excellent transportation network, proximity to the Bakken oil formation, a diverse economic base and Brandon is a city that will continue to attract new business.”

The study enables business executives to take an initial scan of how business costs compare among a variety of cities in leading countries. It also assists KPMG professionals and economic developers in their work with businesses considering relocation or expansion, and enables policy makers to help determine the impact of a proposed tax and/or incentive policy change on the cost competitiveness of their jurisdictions.

To access the full report, please visit www.competitivealternatives.com.