Business Retention & Expansion Flashcards
BRE programs assist businesses in an effort to
help them survive economic difficulties
assist with expansions and add jobs
increase their competitiveness in the wider market
existing businesses are responsible for ____ % of all net new employment
80
BRE programs typically involve partnerships with
public sector, businesses and community leadership
what is an early warning system?
a sign that a company is at-risk and could be facing trouble that leads to layoffs, shutdowns, or relocation
BRE programs enable communities to keep up-to-date pictures of the community by getting data on
competitive strengths and weaknesses of the local area as a business community
relative strength of the local economy (number of business investments and expansions)
areas of interest and concern that can be used to formulate public policy, enhance development efforts, or improve the local business climate (available workforce, regulatory issues, access to capital)
successfu BRE programs are based on several factors
- industry knowledge - know the industries in your community
- local firm knowledge - know the comapnies and their primary needs and priorities
- professional service - offering high-quality business services that can meet the changing needs of companies
- results oriented - adopt an outcome or result in service delivery
- focused on long-term - encourage a favorable overall business climate in the long-term
- coordination of services - employs a team approach to help companies
what are some of the ways that economic development practitioners can help with BRE
- provide resources directly
- act as a broker between company and resources
- act as an advocate for businesses dealing with the public process
________ typically include folks offering financing, technical assistance, management and technological assessments, workforce training and retraining, finding new markets
service providers
_____have a special interest in maintaining the business community because exiting business represents their customer base
Utilities
the survival and profitability of utility companies depends on
the preservation and growth of the customer base in their service area
utility BRE programs might include
- discounted rates for growing companies
- info on available land and facilities in the service area
- energy auits to help companies save energy and increase operating efficiency
- revolving loan funds and grant programs for small companies
- low cost financing for local business
- export promotion assistance or new market expansion assistance
BRE programs are typically housed in ____, ______, or _____ organizations
local, private, or public private
advantages of a local government BRE program
- staff likely have day-to-day contact with top elected and appointed officials providing opportunities to build support for the program
- staff from other departments affecting business may be more responsive to fellow employees
disadvantages of a local government program
- business owners may be dismissive of the public sector’s ability to help
- funding could be drastically reduced or eliminated
- personnel rules or collective bargaining agreements may mean that someone without experience is put into the BRE role
Private sector (chambers) program advantages
- staff may have more credibility than government employees with local business
- members can be leveraged to serve as keep personnel in the program
- without short-term political considerations can take a longer term approach
private program disadvantages
- public regulatory agencies can be unresponsive
- businesses can use their membership in the chamber to thwart efforts they don’t support (like wanting to maintain certain levels of unemployment to keep wages low)
- lack of funding due to tight budgets [could contract the work out to local EDO]
public/private partnership organization advatages
- initial government funding can leverage additional funds from private sector
- being outside government there is a level of protection from elected officials but there is still access to government staff
- increased flexibility in staff and personnel issues (ability to hire more aggressively)
public/private disadvantages
- chamber may view as a funding competitor
- may be viewed as redundant if there are already local BRE programs
look at these areas when assessing the strengths and weakness of the community
labor force access to market transportation educational infrastructure site availability tax rates utility cost and availabilty quality of life business climate
