2015.08.05 EDC Packet Combined - Laserfiche WebLink

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2) Select businesses for visits (typically non-retail businesses paying livable wages to an employment base of a certain number) 3) Develop survey questions (industry classification, do you plan to close, downsize, sell, expand, move, etc., do you export, what level of training do your employees typically need) 4) Visits & data gathering (introduce the city’s interest in being a problem solver and advocate for business) 5) Analysis of data collected/identifying themes (are the businesses visited communicating common issues/concerns) Beyond business surveys and data gathering, BR&E plans evolve into implementation and action efforts. Examples include:  Establishing a business liaison and/or council to create networking opportunities, and  Providing education and employment connections between schools and local businesses, and  Creating defined policies on public financial assistance and identifying funding sources, and  Respond to specific questions or concerns that came out of a business visit, and  Identifying a frequency of which future visits will be made to certain businesses to ensure relationships stay strong. Other BR&E efforts include:  Creating a list of available properties for sale,  Identifying a comprehensive list/database of all local businesses (even beyond those identified for retention visits) and keeping that database up-to-date,  Creation of an Emergency Response Team to respond to business closures,  Evaluating whether ordinance changes are necessary to address road-blocks to development,  Creating paper and electronic business newsletters to keep businesses connected,  Generate and maintain demographic data, and  Identifying redevelopment areas to track property availability. While each community’s specific BR&E program is unique, they all focus on maintaining good relationships with the business community, and on retention and expansion of existing businesses contrasted with attracting new businesses on the grounds that retaining existing business will have a much larger impact on growing the tax base of a fully developed community. Additionally, businesses paying livable wages attract local residents who invest in their homes, spend their payroll locally, and contribute their time through volunteerism. Identifying a Goal Before developing a plan, the Commission should first identify the goal of a BR&E program. For example, is the Commission interested in building relationships with the business community via networking opportunities or maybe there is a more specific goal at targeting investment in certain areas of the City or with certain businesses?