Halifax Quick Facts

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Business Retention Expansion Best Practices
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Overview

• Why Best Practices
• Background
• Best Practices
• Establishing a BRE Program
• Questionnaire
• Technology
• Training Resources
• Sustaining BRE
• Best of the Best Practices

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Why Best Practices?

• Those delivering or considering BRE programs can
  reduce expenses improve efficiency by applying
  best practices
• Share information
• Learn from others
• Dont reinvent the wheel
• Knowledge short-cut

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Why Best Practices?

• Demonstrate a range of approaches
• BRE model options
• Traditional/volunteer vs. continuous/account
  executive
• Service areas
• Community, regional, state/province-wide

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Why Best Practices?

• Establish BREI as a source of best practice info
• Resources
• Mentors
• Case study examples

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Background

• Partners
• BREI Resource Committee
• BREI Board
• Greater Halifax Partnership Nova Scotia, Canada
• Government agencies Nova Scotia, Canada
• Process
• Review current BRE experience USA, Canada
• Examine tools training available
• Identify BRE best practices, innovative
  approaches

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The Report
8
Overview
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Establishing a BRE Program

• Strong partnership between business government
• Traditional vs. Continuous BRE Models
• Public sector
• Private sector
• Public-Private Partnership
• Service area
• Province-wide/statewide
• Region
• County
• City

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Establishing a ProgramCase Studies

• South Simco Economic Alliance
• Nashville Existing Business Team
• Foundations For Growth
• Memphis Existing Business Team
• Georgia Allies

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BRE Questionnaires

• Key categories
• Company information
• Company health
• Labour force
• Sector specific
• Retail
• Manufacturing
• Etc.

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BRE Questionnaires

• Design
• Short vs. long
• Clarity brevity
• Identification of red flags or early warning
  signs
• Early action can influence location/closure/expans
  ion decisions

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Technology

• BRE-specific
• Survey tool
• Client tracking
• Business directory

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Technology What to Look For

• Ability to analyze data
• By company
• By industry
• In aggregate
• Ability to track client contacts measure
  outcomes
• Secure, confidential access

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Technology

• Blane Canada Ltd.
• Breken Group
• Executive Pulse

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Training

• BREI Certified Master Consultant
• Basic
• Advanced
• IEDC
• Universities

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Training
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Sustaining a BRE Program

• Create brand awareness
• Use common standards protocols
• Dont reinvent the wheel
• Provide multiple benefits
• Act as a rep for CEOs
• Work collaboratively
• Use current technology
• Service customers proactively

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Sustaining BRE

• Brand awareness
• Common standards
• Dont reinvent
• Multiple benefits
• Measure outcomes

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Awareness

• PUBLICITY
• Create brand awareness
• Greater Halifax Partnership Smart Business

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Measuring Outcomes

• of business visits (weekly/monthly/annually)
• of generated referrals
• of successfully closed referrals
• of repeat business
• of jobs created retained
• of success stories
• Cost per business visit
• Cost per job created or retained

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The Best, Best Practices

• Study BRE award winners
• www.BREI.org
• Members Only Section

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BREI Awards
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The Best, Best Practices

• Learn from others
• Find mentors
• Share information, dont hold it
• Review best practices
• Get involved with BREI