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1. Business Retention & Expansion Source: International Economic Development Council 1
2. What is Business Retention & Expansion? Core component of economic development
Keep businesses from relocating
Help businesses survive economic difficulties
Assist them with expansions that add jobs
Increase their competitiveness
Source: International Economic Development Council
3. Business Retention & Expansion Enables the community maintain up-to-date picture of the local economy
Business retention linked with expansion
Impact of a firm on community
Relocation
Expansion
Many communities focus on attraction Source: International Economic Development Council
4. Business Retention & Expansion Many communities focus on attraction
Ignore basic rule of thumb of business marketing (Eric P. Canada)
70% of business is repeat clients
15% comes from referrals
15% comes from new business development Source: International Economic Development Council
5. BRE & Business Attraction Comparison ATTRACTION Most Sophisticated Customers
Supply Driven
Limited Access to Firm’s Key Decision Makers
Customer Typically Sets the Price RETENTION & EXPANSION Less Sophisticated Customers
Demand Driven
Immediate Access to the Firm’s Key Decision Makers
Supplier (Locality) Typically Sets the Price Source: International Economic Development Council
6. BRE Core Program Use many same tools as attraction
Gives credence to business environment
Source: International Economic Development Council
7. Factors for Successful BRE Programs Industry Knowledge
Local Firm Knowledge
Professional Service
Result Oriented
Focus on Long-Term
Coordinate Services Source: International Economic Development Council
8. Stakeholders Role in BRE Economic Development Practitioner
Business Community
Utility Companies
Source: International Economic Development Council
9. Creating a BRE Program The players
Local government
Chamber of Commerce or EDO
Public-private partnership organizations Source: International Economic Development Council
10. Local Government Advantages
Day-to-day contact with political leaders—support
Other government agencies
Disadvantages
Plant managers dismissive
Funding problems
May be reluctant to shift from attraction
Collective bargaining (ugh) career bureaucrats
Source: International Economic Development Council
11. Private Organizations Advantages
Credibility
Leverage
Freed from political considerations
Disadvantages
Unresponsive
Opponents within
Budget problems Source: International Economic Development Council
12. Public-Private Organizations Advantages
Funding from private sector
Access to government officials with protection
Flexibility in staffing
Disadvantages
Competition for funding
Redundant Source: International Economic Development Council
13. Community Assessment SWOT for deeper understanding
Task Force
Action Plan
Annual review & update Source: International Economic Development Council
14. Business Visitation & Surveying Early Warning System
Information aggregated & serves as part of a database for local officials Source: International Economic Development Council
15. Models Mail Surveys
Site Visit Surveys Using Volunteers
Site Visit Surveys Using Economic Development Staff
Combined Main & Site Visit Surveys
Email or Web-based Survey Source: International Economic Development Council
16. Follow-Up Immediate
Short Term
Medium Term
Long Term Source: International Economic Development Council
17. Early Warning System Signals Declining sales/employment
Larger non-local corporate ownership
Recent ownership change
Lease of property, expiring leases
Other facilities producing the same product or service
Negative attitudes about the community
Unbearable regulatory burdens
Union contract expirations
Expanding employment/expanding sales
Facility & site expansion plans
Other – local environment Source: International Economic Development Council
18. Economic Development Tools for BRE Marketing
Identifying & Supporting Industrial Clusters
Creating Site Opportunities for BRE Source: International Economic Development Council
19. Technical Assistance & Assessment Programs Workforce
New Markets
Assistance with Permitting & Licensing Source: International Economic Development Council