1. Business Retention & Expansion (BRE) Program
Insert: Your Logo &
Presentation Date
Business Retention and Expansion or BRE
is a process that takes leadership, commitment, time and resources to implement.
This presentation will provide a high level overview of the process.
*Note to presenter – If you have questions or require additional support to prepare for the delivery of this presentation, contact your Regional Economic Development Services Manager. (

2. The Facts: 80% of new job growth comes from existing businesses.
It is easier and less expensive to retain existing customers than attract new ones.
Existing businesses already have a stake in the community.
KEY MESSAGE : A BRE will help us build on our existing strengths.
(Bullet source-
Business owners know that it is easier and less expensive to retain existing customers than to attract new ones.
Existing businesses already have a stake in the community and are demonstrably contributing to the economic vitality and social fabric of the community.
Communities gain value from a focus on retaining existing businesses.

3. 1 2 3 4 BRE Program Overview: What is a BRE Program?
Why Implement a BRE Program? 3
Who is on the BRE Program Team?
Key Message: This presentation will provide a high level view of the BRE process.
The What, The Why and the Who?
The Methodology – what steps need to be taken?
A successful BRE project requires; leadership, commitment, partners and resources.
Make the audience aware that at the end of the presentation - their advice and direction will be needed. Do you support the development of a work plan focused on implementing a BRE for (insert name of municipality)? 4
Key Components of a BRE Program.

4. 1 An action-oriented engagement opportunity BRE is a process
What is a BRE Program?
An action-oriented engagement opportunity
- Learn more about local & regional challenges and opportunities.
Connect with businesses.
- Build relationships and break down barriers.
BRE is a process
- Business visitation or walk about.
- Round tables.
- Formal & structured.
Key Message: A BRE is a Relationship Building Tool
People do business with those they know, like and trust, which is one reason why relationship-building and business retention and expansion (BRE) go hand in hand.
An ongoing action-oriented engagement opportunity:
Learn more about local and regional challenges and opportunities within the business community.
Connect with businesses to learn first hand about their future visions or plans for expansion.
Build relationships and break down barriers between government, non-profit and the private sector.
(Learning, connecting and building relationships is a continual process)
A BRE program can follow one, or a combination of all three processes below. Each process has pros and cons.
Business visitation or walk about
Round tables
Formal & structured

5. 2 For your community: For your organization:
Why Implement a BRE Program?
For your community:
Builds community capacity.
Helps existing businesses solve problems and explore opportunities for expansion. 
Builds relationships, improves communication and breaks down barriers.
For your organization:
A BRE is the centre of all future initiatives.
It validates activities and priorities of the EDC.
Key Message: How a community and organization can benefit from a BRE?
Many municipalities focus most of their economic development efforts on attracting investment.
Successfully landing “the big fish” is exciting, but it is a really big pond and there are lots of other fish just like you.
Why BRE? For the Community:
Investment attraction is a highly competitive and expensive business.
There are over 400 municipalities in Alberta – how do you stack up?
International investors have a hard time pointing out Alberta or even Canada on the map ….what makes you stand out?
A BRE will enhance and assist the business already contributing to the economic well being of community.
Why BRE? For the Organization:
The findings and results of a BRE can become the centre or heart of an economic development strategy.
A BRE validates the activities.
When stakeholders question economic development projects, the elected officials and economic development staff can provide the rational in the BRE report.

6. (Collaboration is key)3
Who is on the BRE Program Team?
Depends which model you use.
Identify the partners – who can help/who has a vested interest?
Council support is required to implement a successful BRE Program.
(Collaboration is key)
Key Message: A BRE program is a collaborative effort
Depends - the EDO is usually the project manager, but the rest depends on which BRE model is selected.
The BRE can be led by a working group, the EDC or council, or even a Chamber of Commerce.
IMPORTANT: Regardless of which model is selected, BRE training and community collaboration are essential.
You can hire a contractor to do the surveys, rely on experienced trained staff and volunteers, or the mayor and EDO may choose to just visit a few businesses a week.
Each model has pros and cons – after training and research – only the community can decide what works best for them.
Identify the existing groups that have a vested interest in your community and engage them early in the process, better yet – invite them to be part of the committee.
Who do you need on committee to ensure the success of the BRE?
Consider the Chamber of Commerce, Community Sparkplugs (that know everything), Schools, Post Secondary, Major Employers, and Service Groups.
(You are cautioned not to make the committee too large – but make sure you cast a wide net for awareness of your project. Think about with in the other levels of government – Ag Canada? Alberta Labour???? Who can help you succeed?)

7. A B C D 4 Community Assessment Key Components of a BRE.
Business Visitation B
Flagging the Issues C
Analysis/Summary Report D
Key Message: The steps of a BRE
There are 4 key components that make up a BRE program – they are:
A – Community Assessment,
B – Business Visitation,
C – Flagging the Issues,
D – Analysis and Summary Report.

8. A 4 Community Assessment Key Components of a BRE.
Key Message: What is a Community Assessment?
The Community Assessment
Remember – if you don’t know where you are – how can you determine where you want to be?
The Community Assessment is a snapshot of what is occurring in the community at any given point in time.
This is the research component – stats information and local intel from business licenses, etc. – can determine the direction of change, the intensity of change, how the community compares to other similar communities and the overall “data picture” of the community.

9. B 4 Key Components of a BRE. Business Visitation
Key Message: What is the Business Visitation?
B. Business Visitation
The Business visitation or survey identifies opportunities, builds relationships, improves communications and breaks down barriers.
This component provides insight into the actions and initiatives that the community/task force can use to address business-related issues.

10. C 4 Key Components of a BRE Flagging the Issues
Key Message: The issues/opportunities arising and what to do with them
C. Flagging the Issues
As the visitation team is surveying the businesses, certain flags or issues will become obvious.
It is recommended that these issues are flagged and categorized as:
RED - immediate action required.
YELLOW - some research or connections need to be done before taking action.
GREEN - issues of interest – but perhaps out of the scope of the BRE program – but still important.
The Committee/EDO must be given the authority to react quickly to issues identified.
If the EDO must report back to council for permission to address all of the red flags, this will create a bottleneck in the process and the BRE program credibility will suffer.
There will be issues that require Council consideration, but the process can not be micro managed.

11. D 4 Key Components of a BRE. Analysis/Summary Report
Key Message: Once the Community Assessment and Business Visitations have been completed, the Data Analysis and Summary (findings) report is developed.
D. Analysis and Summary Report
This data should be considered the centre of your future Economic Development Strategy.
Take the time to roll up the report and assure all conclusions are supported from the data gathered.
Highlight the issues flagged as part of the BRE process.
Respect confidentiality and remove all names of businesses in all documentation.
The Summary Report will be developed using the data analysis. This is a roll up of the key findings and observations.
Bring in partners for input and advice.
Present the Roll Up to the public and partners.
Remember to draft written and verbal reports. Draft key messages to target groups to communicate “What’s in it for them?”.
Analysis/Summary Report D

12. BRE - The Heart of the Strategy
E c o n o m I c D e v e l o p m e n t S t r a t g y
BRE
Workforce development Expansion Exporting Investment Attraction Business Development
Key Message: A BRE is the heart of the Economic Development Strategy.
BRE Review:
Data and information gathered during the BRE will inform all other economic development functions within the municipality or organization.
A successful BRE program does not have an end date – instead it should be included in every strategic plan going forward.
A BRE Program is an ongoing process.

13. ****Key Considerations ****
Training
Budget? That depends…
Confidentiality agreements
Key Message: Council/committee consideration of training, budget and the importance of confidentiality agreements is vital
Training on the BRE process is highly recommended.
The budget will depend on who does the heavy lifting.
The visitations can be led by the practitioner or by a paid consultant. Again – what will work best for the community?
Once the lead has a sound understanding of the numerous duties required for a BRE program, an informed decision can be determined.
Confidentiality
In order for a BRE to be successful all who are involved in the program must sign a confidentiality agreement.
Businesses are going to be asked about the challenges and future plans of their business – if they are concerned this information will be freely shared, the BRE program will have limited success.

14. Questions

15. Next Steps…. A BRE Work Plan
- An overview of BRE models and recommended delivery model best suited for this municipality.
- The Methodology
- The Budget
- Detailed Timeline (short, mid and long term)
- Communication Plan
Key Message: Seek consensus of the audience – request their approval to develop a work plan for consideration.
This presentation provided a very high level overview of the what, the why and the how of a BRE program.
There is more research that needs to be done and a project work plan is required in advance of investing an abundance of time and resources.

16. Thank You