By Mary Owen
A community-wide effort has launched to identify needs and foster support for existing area businesses.
“This project gives us a chance to create relationships with local businesses, to find any barriers to expansion, and also discover what the community is doing right,” said Kelly Schreiber, executive director of the Stayton Sublimity Chamber of Commerce.
SSCOC has joined with GROW-EDC and SEDCOR to develop a strategic plan for economic development in the Santiam Canyon, and volunteers are needed to participate in a survey for the study.
“None of the communities in Marion County have done a formal BR&E program,” said Nick Harville, business retention and expansion manager for SEDCOR (Strategic Economic Development Corp.). “The motivation for doing the BR&E is so the community has good information on which to make decisions on those activities which are most important to accomplish, a prioritized list. The list will help use limited resources to their best and most beneficial use.”
According to Allison McKenzie, GROW’s executive director, the ongoing health and support of existing businesses is important because they create up to 80 percent of new jobs in any community.
“A BR&E program helps identify strengths and weaknesses of individual businesses as well as the local economy, making it easier for the city, chamber and organizations like ours to create effective support and robust programming,” McKenzie said. “Local businesses are also what give our communities their unique character and flavor. Losing a key local business not only affects employment, but impacts community pride and identity.”
Conversely, McKenzie added, “Helping local businesses prosper has a positive ripple effect throughout hometowns, and makes an area even more attractive to new enterprises and residents.”
Schreiber said competition is fierce for recruiting large employers to a community, and feedback from the survey will help identify new opportunities to help businesses expand.
“This will be an evolving project, not just a one-time survey,” Schreiber said. “Over time, this will help us develop programs and services to better match what our businesses need to thrive and grow.”
As well as identifying expansion opportunities, Schreiber said BR&E is a long-term approach to early detection and identification of problems that could cause employers to leave and help build relationships with company executives to promote community commitment.
“Any regional data and themes will inform programs that our organizations offer, as well as any policies the city may consider implementing,” McKenzie said. “GROW has already identified a program that has an ongoing BR&E component and that we are considering as part of our five-year strategy.”
According to McKenzie, the resurgence of economy in the country is showing locally.
“Businesses that stumbled during the recession are making a comeback,” she said. “Local enterprises are reporting higher sales and hiring staff. Several are working on expansions, even at the microenterprise level. The economy is not perfect, of course, and some who hung on during the recession don’t have enough fuel in their tanks to go the distance, but for the most part, business has improved greatly.”
To date at GROW, common needs reported include how to improve sales and marketing, help with books and financial reports, understanding how to make effective business decisions, funding, and finding qualified staff, McKenzie said.
GROW is happy to support this “important project,” McKenzie said. “We’re even stronger when we all work together.” SEDCOR will analyze the survey results, and will conduct the BR&E survey in other Marion County communities, Schreiber said.
“SEDCOR is looking for commonalities in all the communities,” Harville said. “We’ll get together with city managers and tell them the top three business needs on a country-wide basis.”
Businesparticipation in the survey is extremely important to accurately gauge the needs and concerns of the local business community. Those interested in volunteering for the survey should contact the SSCOC office by May 8. For information, call 503-769-3464.
