Brooks Housing Expansion Plan - The Brooks Housing Society is planning an expansion of Prairie Village. There are currently 87 units housing approximately 200 individuals. The Society reported about 260 applicants on its waiting list. The proposed expansion would add 24 three-bedroom units on adjacent land previously sold to the Society by the City of Brooks for $1. The estimated project cost is $7 million. The Society is seeking approximately $1.06 million to support grant applications.

Food Bank Garden at CDC - County of Newell Council heard a presentation from the Brooks Food Bank regarding a proposed Garden Plot at the Crop Diversification Centre South (CDC). The Food Bank requested the use of one acre of land at the CDC site, along with irrigation access. Council passed a motion allowing the project to proceed. A certified arborist will oversee the garden, with volunteer groups assisting during the growing season.

CDC Update - Staff are meeting with an educational institution and a private greenhouse operator to explore potential collaboration. One existing tenant is finalizing a lease amendment to expand its acreage. Interest has also been expressed in small-plot and custom research services. Two greenhouse bays remain active, including a private user and a Lethbridge Polytechnic trial. A Prussian carp research project from a B.C.-based researcher is operating out of the lab space for four months. Director of Agricultural Services Todd Green said the County is hopeful for a provincial budget commitment toward specific capital projects they requested, noting they do not intend to “hoe that row on their own.”

Planning and Development 2025 - strong development activity in the County of Newell in 2025. New developments included a market garden, an online retail operation similar to Uncle Wieners, a storefront in Patricia specializing in locally raised beef and other goods, three self-storage businesses, two home-based businesses, one for small engine repair, and a dog and cat grooming business, and two agricultural processing operations focused on organic fertilizer. Approvals were also issued for auto wrecking and vehicle repair businesses. Residential development included 10 new single-family dwellings and nine manufactured homes. Eleven development permits were issued for oversized ground-mounted solar installations, prompting a land use amendment to increase allowable size limits.

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