Business development includes business recruitment, retention, and attraction. It can range from arts and entertainment to retail, restaurants, and services. Specific topics such as entrepreneurship, co-op businesses, farmers markets, and buy-local programs are included.
Retaining and expanding existing businesses is a surer economic development bet than recruiting new ones from other towns. Extension helps communities understand local business needs and respond – so that businesses stay, grow, and become more committed to the community. Our BR&E Strategies program gets the broader community involved in comprehensive business retention and expansion planning.
Read More...
Vibrant communities often have a healthy economy with a diverse set of economic activity occurring related to job growth, business growth and attraction and a sustainable infrastructure. Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) is an economic development strategy of proactively connecting with existing businesses to understand and respond to local business needs.
Read More...
Local public officials and community leaders, in searching for ways to help revitalize their economies especially in the post-recession years, are working with business leaders in a variety of new ways. While low-cost loans and other financial inducements continue, in some communities, local groups have also organized residents to raise funds that then are invested directly in business ventures called Community Supported Enterprises (CSEs).
Read More...
The University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives seeks to increase understanding and encourage critical thinking about cooperatives by fostering scholarship and mutual learning among academics, the cooperative community, policy makers and the public
Read More...
Educational objectives include: learning how data can be used in a market analysis to guide downtown decision making, analyzing community data from ESRI Business Analyst and other sources, learning how to find additional data sources for downtown benchmarking and evaluation, and learning how to effectively collect data that is not otherwise available (surveys, focus groups, and other primary research).
Read More...
This toolbox contains tools that Main Street executive directors and volunteers can use to assist downtown businesses, carry out downtown improvement projects, provide information for residents and visitors and run their own organizations effectively.
Read More...
The Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service – Community Economic Development offers workshops to help communities attract new industry, expand existing industry, attract new businesses, retirees, or increase recreational opportunities. Retail is one area of specialty.
Read More...
BFBLN invites: Nebraska’s small family farmers & ranchers, Farmers’ Markets across the state that feature their family farmers & ranchers, Locally owned grocers, co-ops, restaurants, breweries, wineries and other retail that support our farmers and ranchers, AND Sponsors and Friends who want to invest in a vibrant food culture.
Read More...
The Power of Business is about assisting small, rural business owners network and learn from each other. This virtual space will provide anyplace anytime information regarding questions on marketing, start ups, tech tips, best practices and upcoming events.
Read More...
Self-identified communities with up to 25,000 people that aim to develop a new generation of local leaders; promote the launch, survival and growth of small businesses and entrepreneurs; or invest in place through community design, public space developments, local foods, or other quality of life initiatives are eligible and encouraged to apply.
Read More...
