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ABOUT THESE MATERIALS

This booklet is part of a set of materials on Implementing Local Business Retention and Expansion Visitation Programs, which includes the following:

Brochures on BR&E Visitation Program

Three versions of a brochure are included with these materials. One gives a quick overview of the program. A second brochure is identical to the first, but with an additional section explaining the roles of Task Force members. A third brochure is identical to the first brochure, but with a special section explaining how Volunteer Visitors participate.

Is It for Our Community?

This booklet gives a more detailed overview of the program.

Initiator’s Manual for Starting New BR&E Visitation Programs

The best people to organize a new BR&E Visitation Program in a community are already the busiest people in town. While this program has tremendous benefits, it is also a lot of work. To overcome this dilemma, this study guide suggests efficient ways to use these materials to evaluate whether or not the program is right for a community, and if so, how to organize it effectively and efficiently.

BR&E Visitation Video

This three part video includes a case study of a successful BR&E Visitation Program, a segment which demonstrates how to visit firms, and a segment on follow-up.

Using the Video to Introduce the Program and Train Volunteers

This booklet provides tips on ways to use the video segments effectively.

Local Leadership Team Manual

This booklet provides details for the local citizens who organize a community’s BR&E Visitation Program.

Visitation Coordinator Manual

This booklet gives a step-by-step guide for whoever takes responsibility for organizing the visits to local firms.

ARE WE SPEAKING THE SAME LANGUAGE?

As you read these booklets, you will run into three terms frequently open to different interpretations. To avoid confusion, we encourage you to use the following definitions for these terms:

Community Economic Development is a sustained community effort to improve both the local economy and the quality of life by building the area’s capacity to adapt to global economic changes.

BR&E includes all community economic development efforts aimed at helping local businesses survive and grow within the community.

The BR&E Visitation Program is an action-oriented process for learning about the concerns of local businesses and setting priorities for BR&E projects to address these needs. These booklets focus on a BR&E Visitation approach that has been field tested in many states and subjected to two major evaluation research projects.

AUTHORS

Scott Loveridge is extension associate professor at West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia.

George Morse is professor and extension economist at the University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota.

Penn State Printing Services
250, 8 M 4/97

For More Information Contact:

BR&E International
http://www.brei.org

George Morse
Department of Applied Economics
University of Minnesota
1994 Buford Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55108-6040
e-mail: gmorse@dept.agecon.umn.edu

Scott Loveridge
West Virginia University Extension Service
404 Knapp Hall, P.O. Box 6031
Morgantown, WV 26506-6031
e-mail: LOVRIDG@wvnvms.wvnet.edu

Western Rural Development Center Oregon State University Ballard Extension Hall 307 Corvallis, OR 97331-3607 (503) 737-3621 North Central Regional Center for Rural Development 317 East Hall Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011-1070 (515) 294-8321

Programs of the regional rural development centers are available equally to all people.

Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development 7 Armsby Building The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA 16802 (814) 863-4656 Southern Rural Development Center Box 9656 - 6 Montgomery Drive Mississippi State University Mississippi State, MS 39762-9656 (601) 325-3207

Listen to what local leaders have said about their Business Retention and Expansion Visitation Programs:

 

"It gave us an opportunity and, more importantly, gave us a reason to work together in Filmore County."

— Gary Peterson, Filmore County Commissioner

"People were aware that we knew that they were there, that they knew that we cared."

— John Caskey, Glenwood Economic Development Director

"It is a vehicle that people can get on to establish rapport with their businesses."

— John Morris, Minnesota Extension Service:

"It created an awareness for business people in Pope County that was simply unknown before this was attempted."

— Jim Johnson, Starbuck Chamber of Commerce

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Please send questions and comments to TDS104@EMAIL.PSU.EDU.

This document was last modified on July 15, 1997.