Business Retention& Expansion (BR&E) is an initiative to evaluate the local business climate and assist existing businesses with retention and expansion in community. Existing businesses create up to 86 percent of all new jobs, so it’s important to examine the needs of those locally-owned businesses already committed to the community.
 
Another goal of BR&E is to increase communication between businesses and local and county governments.  The first phase of BR&E is the development and implementation of a survey to businesses within a community. The survey questions range from identifying hours of operation and number of employees to any expansion and renovation plans and the products and services they anticipate their customers will need in the next 5-10 years. Business owners will also have the opportunity to rank the value of a variety of community services, such as day care, public restrooms, and signage; and to identify business sector trends, such as changing vacation patterns and increasing minimum wage, that may impact positively or negatively impact their businesses.
 
BR&E surveys provide valuable insight into the business community and give local officials the ability to assist local companies in staying competitive. The survey data help identify needs/concerns of the business community and examine ways to assist businesses with operations and potential expansion plans.
 
BR&E initiatives can focus on a municipal boundary and/or a specific sector of the business community and can be developed as a single or on-going economic development program focusing on retaining and growing existing businesses in a community.

In 2014 New York Sea Grant and project task force will pilot the Ohio University Extension/Sea Grant developed BR&E Program with the recreation and tourism businesses in Oswego County. 

News:

Deadline Extended to Return Oswego County Business Retention and Expansion Surveys (May 2014) (click here)
As announced earlier this year, nearly 600 recreation and tourism businesses in Oswego County have an opportunity to help local and county leaders and residents better understand the issues facing locally-owned businesses in today’s economy. In mid-May, it was announced that the deadline was extended through the end of the month to return surveys related to this pilot program.

NYSG and SUNY Oswego Launch Business Retention and Expansion Pilot Program in Oswego County (February 2014) (click here)
Nearly 600 recreation and tourism businesses in Oswego County will have an opportunity to help local and county leaders and residents better understand the issues facing locally-owned businesses in today’s economy.


Resources of interest:

• Business Retention and Expansion - An OSU Extension Signature Program (click here)
  
  
• BR&E Overview - Fact sheet (pdf)
  
  
• BR&E Coordinator - Fact sheet (pdf)
  
  
• BR&E Task Force - Fact sheet (pdf)
  
  
• BR&E Success Stories (click here)