Department of Community Development Business Retention and Expansion Summary Reports

Persistent link for this collection

https://conservancy.umn.edu/handle/11299/197777

The most important community economic development strategy for most situations is Business Retention and Expansion (BRE). That is, paying attention and responding to the businesses already existing in the community.

For example, several studies have shown that most new jobs come from businesses already located in the community. UofM’s Department of Applied Economics and the Extension Center for Community Vitality have promulgated BRE programming across Minnesota since 1989. This collection of BRE material includes: applied research summary reports of community BRE plans, case studies, sample interview guides (aka surveys), vintage BRE manuals, and more (1990 through the present). The founder of the program, George Morse (emeritus), and Michael Darger, program director since 1999 (darger@umn.edu) have contributed materials along with many reports/materials from Brigid Tuck, Patricia Love, Scott Loveridge, Monica Haynes and Gina Grensing (UMD), Dan Erkkila, and Theresa Heiland.

Extension's research is informed by the programs and partnerships we have with communities across the state. Learn more at extension.umn.edu.

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Poster: Connecting Businesses and Community: People's Energy - Engaging an electric power cooperative to strengthen local businesses
(2023-09) Darger, Michael
This conference poster presents the case of People's Energy Cooperative working with the University of Minnesota Extension's Connecting Businesses and Community program. The engagement created five takeaway objectives, which were integrated into the power cooperative's strategic plan. A Minnesota Automation Loan Participation Program was created in part because of this initiative.
People’s Energy Cooperative Business Retention & Expansion Program
(2022-05) Grensing, Gina; Haynes, Monica; Jones, Jacque; Kofi Austin, Nana; Darger, Michael
People's Energy Cooperative Business Retention & Expansion Program: Summary Report
(2022-05) Grensing, Gina; Haynes, Monica; Jones, Jacques; Austin, Nana Kofi; Darger, Michael
Lonsdale Connecting Businesses and Community Program Summary Report, 2021
(2021-10-13) Grensing, Gina, C; Darger, Michael, P
Summary of the volunteer-intensive and community-driven effort in Lonsdale Minnesota to reach out to ~35 local businesses in 2020 and move into strategic action for economic development. The project was delayed because of COVID-19, however the community team was resilient and stayed with the process with University of Minnesota Extension's Connecting Businesses and Community Program. In October, 2021 they embarked on three priority projects to improve business retention and economic development in the small city south of Minneapolis. The three priority projects are: 1. Business Succession/Business Plan Assistance Group, 2.Increase the Variety of Businesses in Town and 3. Small Business Alliance Group
Wadena County Business Retention and Expansion Strategies Program: Summary Report
(2019-10) Darger, Michael
Professional Practice of Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E). Research Findings from Interviews with Economic Development Officials (EDOs) in Minnesota
(2018-02) Darger, Michael
This study confirmed the hypothesis that Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) is now conducted in a continuous manner. It describes contemporary professional practice of BR&E in Minnesota. Extensive interviews were conducted with 23 economic development officials (EDOs) across the state in April 2017. Far and away, the positive theme (i.e., things that are going well) described most often in the interviews was relationship building with businesses (15 respondents). Among the things that could use improvement, however, interviewees most often mentioned the need for more staff time and larger budgets. Other concerns about activities not going well in communities included: multiple EDOs/organizations visiting the same businesses, a need for more consistent visits and follow-ups, and a lack of coordination with partners. There was a notable variation among the EDOs in terms of data collection and aggregation. Most respondents utilize some type of software program for data collection. In fact, a third of respondents use Salesforce, a customer relationship management (CRM) software system. However, another third don’t use any software for data collection and aggregation. In terms of data analysis, few respondents discussed data aggregation and analysis. The author discusses the findings and makes a few suggestions for EDOs to consider for their BR&E professional practice. For instance, EDOs who do continuous visitation without periodically pausing to look at the big picture may miss an opportunity to convert BR&E data into strategic opportunities.
Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Today - Research, Application, and Evaluation: Introduction to the Special Issue
(2018-01) Darger, Michael; Barefield, Alan; Hales, Brent
Lessons Learned From a Generation of Community-Driven Business Retention and Expansion Programming
(2017-02) Darger, Michael; Tuck, Brigid; Bennett, John
Battle Lake Business Retention and Expansion Strategies Program
(2018-04) Haynes, Monica; Grensing, Gina
Addressing Workforce and Economic Development through Regional Collaboration
(2018-06) Hawkins, Jennifer
Battle Lake Business Retention and Expansion Strategies Program Summary Report 2018
(2018-04) Haynes, Monica; Grensing, Gina
Summary of the business retention and expansion survey (N=56) program from Battle Lake, Minnesota (2017-18). The community's four priority projects for addressing the BRE needs are described including organizational collaboration, developing training and career pathways, business stipends for the new childcare center, and considering options for the lack of land for development.
Integrating BR&E into Community Plans
(University of Minnesota, 2016) Bussiere, Merritt; Darger, Michael
Using the Video to Introduce the Program and Train Volunteers
(University of Minnesota, 1997) Loveridge, Scott; Morse, George
Visitation Coordinator Manual
(University of Minnesota, 1997) Morse, George; Loveridge, Scott
Local Leadership Team Manual
(University of Minnesota, 1997) Loveridge, Scott; Morse, George
Initiator's Manual for Starting New BR&E Visitation Programs
(University of Minnesota, 1997) Morse, George; Loveridge, Scott
Paying Attention to the Businesses in Your Backyard-Case Studies of Three Rural Community Business Retention and Expansion Visitation Programs
(University of Minnesota, 2001-07) Darger, Michael
Lessons learned from a generation of community-driven business retention and expansion programming
(University of Minnesota, 2017-02) Darger, Michael; Tuck, Brigid; Bennett, John
Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) today-research, application, and evaluation: Introduction to the special issue
(University of Minnesota, 2017) Darger, Michael
From BR&E Theory to Practice in Minnesota: Lessons Learned from Local Community Modifications in Implementation
(University of Minnesota, 2007-03) Bosma, Linda