Business Retention and Expansion

August 26, 2013

Business Retention and Expansion

The goal of the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) program is to build relationships with local business and help them stay and grow in Sonoma County.

Business Retention and Expansion

Three primary sources of job growth that exist in every community are: incoming new business (11%) existing business expansions (80%), and start-up operations (9%).”

11%

80%

9%New Businesses

Existing Business Ex-pansion

Start-Up Operations

Source: Blane, Canada, Ltd. “Beyond the Basics – Advanced Business Retention

•Program created in summer 2012•Structured around one-on-one business interviews •First organized direct business outreach program by the County

Business Retention and Expansion

Business Retention & Expansion Visits

Listen

Assist

Advocate

Business Retention & Expansion Visits

8%12%

20%

24%6%

6%

6%18%

Business Assistance Requests

Business Training

Green Biz

Permit Assistance

Marketing

Financing

Workforce

Energy Efficiency

Other0 10 20 30 40 50

Permitting

Marketing

Financing

Workforce

Vender Issues

Seasonal Tourism

Infrastructure

Key Business Issues

Businesses visited represent 6,227 employees

225 Business Assistance Requests

185 Businesses Visited

Testimonials

 “The EDB staff was instrumental in assisting the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn navigate permit processing in conjunction with our recent renovation project. Their assistance and advocacy enabled us to complete our restoration works in a timely fashion.  Their guidance was paramount in the avoidance of costly delays.”- Michelle Heston, Director of Public Relations, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn

Tim Ricard of the EDB was the first County employee from any department to ever reach out and see how they could help.  And he has been as good as his word, bringing together multiple County agencies to find creative solutions to a complicated infrastructure problem impacting my business.  If this is a trend, we like it!”- Ed Davis, President, Empire West Inc.

 Tim and his staff are always available... He has helped put me in contact with clients throughout Sonoma County. Without him and his staff I wouldn’t be able to grow my business.” Steve Herrfeldt, Business Development Manager, Gardenworks Inc

EDB staff took the time to understand my business, evaluated my needs, and connected me to free business training resources I never knew existed." Shawna DeGrange, Owner, Cloverleaf Ranch