BR&E is the retention and expansion of existing businesses in a community within the context of community and economic development. Why focus on existing businesses?

Up to 90% of new jobs created in rural areas of Ohio are created by that area's existing businesses (Kraybill, 2001).

• They create most of the jobs in your community
• They are the best source of information on the strengths and weaknesses of the local economy
• If existing businesses are happy, new businesses may very well also find your community attractive

A BR&E Program enables community leaders to define the strengths and weaknesses of the local economy as identified by a survey of existing businesses and workers.

Armed with this database of information, economic developers and community leaders work together to prioritize, develop, and implement actionable items and policy that best address the needs of local firms and the community.

The benefits of a local BR&E Program are:

• Establishment of an integrated approach to economic development
• Development of community economic decision-making capacity
• Improvement of quality of life
• Development of a pro-business orientation
• Improvement of community leaders’ response to residents’ concerns
• Creation of a factual basis for attraction and community marketing
• Engaging community residents in a discussion of their local economy

If you have experienced other benefits you'd like to share, please let us know!