2020.03.04 EDC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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fundamental aspect of local economic development activity. Over the past five years, Gahanna has successfully created a business retention and expansion program that seeks at-risk companies and addresses needs on a case-by-case basis. The city’s BRE program also builds connections and partnerships to provide extended services to businesses and industry. The Gahanna Department of Development is responsible for retaining and expanding business in the community. The department runs a program that surveys existing businesses and responds quickly to needs and issues. The survey, sent annually to over 800 businesses, consists of key questions that measure a company’s health and happiness in the city. Questions range from employment and ownership status to expectation for expansion or relocation. The city also asks businesses to rate city services and efforts to assist businesses. The city’s response to survey results is key. In 2001, over 25 percent of businesses that were surveyed responded, giving the department an overwhelming amount of information. Forty businesses were considering expansion or relocation over the next year and would be interested in discussing options with city officials. The department responded to the 40 businesses by having high-level staff call each business to better understand their needs and assess the severity of risk that the company might leave the community. Companies were then prioritized by needs and risk. Higher-risk businesses were given on-site visitation by development staff and lower-risk businesses were directed to other appropriate staff to help with their needs. The city responded to each of the 40 businesses personally. Another aspect of the Gahanna BRE program is creating connections with partners and service providers. Development staff initiated an Industrial Roundtable to help address specific needs in an industrial district. The roundtable meets quarterly and conducts informative sessions on concerns that emerged from the survey. For example, on September 11, 2001 it took over two hours to evacuate one of the major employers of the industrial district due to traffic problems and lack of communication and coordination. With city support, the roundtable presented experts from the state and local emergency management departments to explain procedures for evacuation and disaster recovery. The city also is working with businesses in the industrial district to establish a comprehensive plan for disasters or emergencies. The city has developed other relationships and partnerships with the Chamber of Commerce, utility providers, the Ohio State University, local fiber optics providers, downtown business associations, events organizations and the local school district. These partnerships result in business services that competing municipalities don’t provide, such as high-tech capabilities, workforce development assistance and joint marketing efforts. If the city cannot provide the services a business needs, it directs them to a partner who can help. The city’s BRE program is clearly paying off. In 2001, a major employer responded through the survey that it may be forced to look elsewhere to accommodate expansion plans. Not wanting to lose over 500 employees and risk an abandoned 500,000 square foot facility, the development staff quickly met with the business and was able to locate expansion space within the industrial district. Through its strategic partnerships, the city also provided the necessary technology infrastructure to accommodate the business. These efforts saved jobs and helped create more opportunity for the business to grow and prosper in the community.