10 STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS ATTRACTION

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10 STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
ATTRACTION Presented by Robert M. Ady,
President Ady International Company Presented
to Business Retention Expansion
International Annual Conference Omaha, NE May
18, 2006
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BACKGROUND

• Philosophy of site selection It is a process of
  elimination no location is perfect
• Role of state government Make sure projects
  arent eliminated at the state level
• Existing companies are your greatest source of
  job growth and your best sales people
• Expert intermediaries will represent more
  projects
• Site seekers are driven by the facts

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STEP 1 THE AVAILABILITY OF A SHOVEL-READY
INDUSTRIAL SITE

• Immediately availability (documentation of owner
  willingness to sell/lease)
• Properly zoned
• All utilities in place
• Highway frontage
• Easements identified
• Phase 1 environmental report completed
• Flood plain/drainage information available

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STEP 2 DEMONSTRATED OPERATING COST ADVANTAGE
Variable
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STEP 3 DEVELOPMENT OF A WEB SITE WITH RELEVANT
DATA FOR BUSINESS ATTRACTION

• Is it easy to find?
• Is it speedy?
• Is it easy to navigate?
• Does it contain relevant data?

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STEP 4 AVAILABILITY OF VOCATIONAL/COMMUNITY
COLLEGE TRAINING

• Demonstrated cooperation with local companies
• In-house facility/faculty availability
• Remote educational opportunities
• Assistance in training cost expenses
• Trainee and instructor wages
• Training materials and equipment
• Training facilities
• Trainee travel

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STEP 5 HIGHWAY ACCESSIBILITY

• Within 25 miles of an interstate
• Served by 4-laned highway
• 2-laned highway with shoulders and in good
  condition

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STEP 6 BROADBAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

• Active participation by service providers in
  economic development
• T-1 lines
• Fiber optic cable
• DSL
• Satellite
• Wireless
• Cable Modem

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STEP 7 DOCUMENTED RESOURCES

• Credibility of information
• Current information
• Complete information regarding
• sites
• buildings
• existing employers
• local schools
• incentives

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STEP 8 ATTRACTIVE COMMUNITY APPEARANCE

• CBD
• Residential areas
• Community ingress and egress
• Industrial sites and buildings

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STEP 9 AGGRESSIVE MARKETING PROGRAM

• Start with image building
• Have current data (understand the product)
• Work with alliance partners (state, utilities,
  telecommunication providers)
• Realize the importance of your web site
• Have a marketing plan (trade shows, mailings,
  newsletters)
• Maintain continuity of effort (communicate
  regularly with companies/location consultants)
• Become involved in economic development
  organizations

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STEP 10 PROGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP

• Public/private partnership
• Regional in approach
• Active/dedicated leadership
• Proactive outreach to companies
• Adequately funded
• Long term perspective