Business Retention Expansion Initiative-Education

Description

The Portage County Business Council (PCBC) is continuing to lead the economic development effort with a Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) initiative throughout our community.  PCBC is seeking perspectives from key stakeholders that will assist policy makers and business advocates to determine priorities for our community.  The ultimate goal is to enhance the economic vitality of our region.
 
Businesses that participate in the focus groups will (YOU talk, PCBC listens):
 

• Share what is working well in our current economy and within your business
• Acknowledge challenges to your business model, both short-term “red flags” and longer-term issues, that can be addressed individually or collectively in our community
• Assist with mapping local, regional and state resources that support our economic vitality

The focus of the initiative is to gather qualitative data through face-to-face conversations with targeted businesses sectors and work with governmental units and other organizations to implement programs and services based on responses that best support economic growth.
 
BREs involve partnerships of government, business, education and community leadership that continuously assess the existing economic base and the physical, geographical, financial, technological, and human resource needs of individual businesses with the community.
 
The key areas to examine in assessing our communities’ strengths and weaknesses include (but are not limited to): access to markets, education, govt./policy/taxes/utilities, housing, quality of life, regional supply chain, site availability, talent/workforce/labor, and transportation.
 
Date                                      Business Sector
Thurs., June 7                    Education

Future Focus Groups (register separately):

Wed., Aug. 1                      Non-profit, Community Services
Thurs., Aug. 2                    Information Technology
Thurs., Aug. 16                 Retail, Restaurant, Hotel,
                                                Entertainment, Recreation
Wed., Aug. 29                    Construction, Real Estate
(NOTE: already completed agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, finance, insurance, and professional services)
 
If any business would prefer a one-on-one confidential conversation, please contact Todd Kuckkahn, Executive Director, Portage County Business Council; tkuckkahn@portagecountybiz.com; 715-344-1940.