a pacific northwest nonprofit cultivating leaders|catalyzing … · 2017. 6. 23. · of downtown...
TRANSCRIPT
A Pacific Northwest Nonprofit
Cultivating Leaders|Catalyzing Economic Vitality
Presented by: Michael Held, Director of Policy and Economic Services 1
• Principles, best practices, & approaches
• Introduce a rural perspective
BR&E Basics
• Case Studies: The Oregon Experience
Impacts & Success
• Lessons learned & key takeaways
• Discussion: How to get started and sustain efforts
Applied Learning
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State of Oregon forms response to spotted owl listing
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State of Oregon forms nonprofit Rural Development Initiatives
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Leadership Program forms (~8k grads to date) 2
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Moving leaders to economic action – a return to our roots
Our Focus: Develop Leaders, Diversify and
Stabilize Economies
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Economic Organizing: Convene a regional summit focused on critical economic vitality topics.
Economic Organizing: Create a fast action, focused action plan for economic development.
Economic Placemaking: Improve your community’s appeal to tourists, future residents, and new business.
Business Development: Build financial literacy and business basics for rural Latinos.
Business Development: Retain and expand existing business.
Leadership Development: Train rural leaders to build community capacity and create community vitality.
Economic Vitality
Roadmap
First Impressions
Pasos al Éxito
Economic Vitality Summit
BR&E
Leadership Services
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ABOUT BR&E: THE THREE LEGGED STOOL
“Business retention and expansion should not be viewed as an optional
exercise in economic development or the second or third leg in the stool.
Business retention and expansion is the underpinning for all other
successful and sustainable economic development initiatives in any market”
area.” – The BR&E Guru
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1. Grow what you
have (BR&E)
3. Grow from the dirt
(Entrepreneurial/Small Business Development)
2. Bring in the new
(Business
Recruitment/Attraction)
Develop Solutions
• Strategies
• Celebrate
Program Design & Outreach
• Develop program structures
• Visit businesses & gather information
• Synthesize results
Connect Resources
• Organize service partners
• Connect businesses
Plan and Organize
• Goals & Objectives
• Identify partners and resources
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Y E A R 1
O U T R E A C H
Y E A R 2
O U T R E A C H
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RDI & City-led
5 Partners
Staffing .25 fte
23 Businesses – 8 week period
20 Volunteers/Practitioners
City-led
8 Partners
Staffing .50 fte
12 Businesses – 6 week period
8 Volunteers/Practitioners
Y E A R 1 O U T R E A C H Y E A R 2 O U T R E A C H
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$8k (city staff)
$30k (foundations grant to RDI)
$16k (city staff)
$12k (foundations grant to RDI)
$2,500 (community contributions)
KEY METRICS SINCE 2016 (35 BUSINESSES)
2 businesses retained (7 jobs); 1 business succession (2 jobs) = 9 total jobs retained18 Referrals for technical assistance and business support services
7 Businesses connected to city services/incentives
8 Businesses actively followed through w/referrals
3 Businesses referred for capital
Over 40 community members involved
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1. Public Infrastructure (broadband)
2. Business Infrastructure (quality & availability
of downtown retail space)
3. Business to Business Relationship Building
4. Business Tools and Resources
5. Workforce
6. Business to Community Relationship
Building
7. Access to Capital
Prioritized by business leaders, community
members, and city staff
Workforce – Community Led / City Staffed
•Connected to Workforce Lane Partnership and WorkSource Lane
•Participated in the Elmira H.S. Career Fair
•Facilitated a partnership between FCR and WLT
•Advocated and secured increase in bus routes to/from Eugene
•Created an action plan of yearly activities for the City to engage in
Downtown Infrastructure – City Led / City Staffed
•Conducted broadband feasibility study
•City working with providers on expansion (2018)
•Completed Downtown Market Analysis to aid in retail and property development
•Working with 2 property owners for possible new development
Business Services – Community Led / City Staffed
•Formed partnership with Veneta-Fern Ridge Chamber of Commerce
•Partnership with Community LendingWorks, LCC SBDC, and RAIN
•Secured $2,500 in private contributions for Veneta Small Business Assistance Center
•Sponsored and planned the first annual Local Business Showcase with 46 local businesses and over 250 community members
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Y E A R 1 O U T R E A C H
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RDI & Main Street Nonprofit Led
6 Partners
Staffing .30 fte
33 Businesses – 10 week period
22 Volunteers/Practitioners
Y E A R 1 O U T R E A C H
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$10,000 (City grant to Main Street)
$3,500 (Bank of The West grant to RDI)
$2,500 (US Bank grant to Main Street)
$1,000 (Gas Utility grant to Main Street
$25,000 (foundation grant to RDI)
KEY METRICS SINCE 2016 (33 BUSINESSES)
3 businesses retained (5 jobs);
22 Referrals for technical assistance and business support services
7 Businesses connected to city services/incentives (2 façade projects underway)
11 Businesses actively followed through w/referrals
6-8 Business expansionsOver 30 community members involved
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A CLOSER LOOK @ UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
6-7 Businesses Need Storage
Vacant Building Recently Purchased
Owner/ Entrepreneurially Driven
Developing Business Model for Shared Storage
1 New Business
Several Business Expansions
Success!
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33 Businesses
6 Succession
Plans
Workforce Partnerships
Technology T.A.
Multiple Relocations
A Rural Approach to BR&E: 6 Tips to
Success
2. Partners, Partners, Partners 3. Cast the Net:
Volunteers & Practitioners
6. Build Stable
Funding Model
5. Build Capacity & Start Small
4. Targeting Businesses: Be Strategic
1. Forget the Data: Build
Relationships
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• Don’t get hung upon strategy, start small, build partnerships
There is no right, or wrong, approach
• Bring partners together to collaboratively develop and determine scale, scope, roles & responsibilities
Create Buy-In
• Communicate value to funders: sell your program!
Invest in a local coordinator
• Make long term, annual, commitment to BRE as your go-to eco dev strategy
Invest in the program
• In the beginning, overall strategies should be short term (90 days)
Short term strategies, at first
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• Without dedicated staff, take a team approach and/or use CRM software
The business referral process is the most important and challenging thing you’ll do
• Utilities and banks make great partners and champions
Engage the private sector for support
Secure $10,000-$20,000 for a Local Coordinator’s
time
Allocate a minimum of .25 FTE – build from there
Allocate at least 6 months for 1st year
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1.Conduct business outreach annually,
maintain the momentum
2.Provide meaningful business follow up
services
3.Evaluate and communicate results
4.Celebrate successes
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“BRE can be a success
anywhere when a community
commits to the philosophy of
supporting its existing
businesses, I’m glad we did.”
- Matthew Klebes, Economic Development Manager The Dalles, Oregon
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Thank you, Edmonton!
Cultivating Leaders|Catalyzing Community Led Action
www.rdiinc.org
Contact Info RDI Phone: 541-687-9077
A Pacific Northwest Nonprofit
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