Workshop To Offer Insight into Getting Businesses to Stay & Grow

Feb. 8, 2006 – Community leaders and economic developers can learn more about innovative approaches to help existing businesses remain healthy and strong at a one-day workshop on Feb. 28.

The “Taking Care of Business” workshop, presented by the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, will provide a close-up look at the solutions and resources communities are using for successful business retention and expansion programs. The workshop will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Conference Center of the Moore Norman Technology Center South Penn Campus, 13301 S. Penn Ave. in Oklahoma City. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

“Keeping local businesses strong and assisting them to grow is vital since up to 85 percent of new jobs are created by existing companies, rather than new companies that are recruited into our communities,” said Vikki Dearing, business solutions director for the Commerce Department. “Plus, recruiting businesses can cost many times more than jobs created by retention and expansion programs.”

In addition to hearing the best practices of Oklahoma communities, attendees should also gain an understanding of business retention and expansion basics, hear of a partnership model used in Georgia, and learn of resources made available by the Commerce Department and other providers.

Registration is $35 per attendee and includes continental breakfast, lunch and all workshop materials. Attendees must register their information by Feb. 23. The registration amount may be paid in advance or at door.

Greg King, a leading expert on business retention and expansion, will deliver the keynote on Georgia’s Business InSight Partnership. King helped develop the statewide collaborative initiative which focuses on efficiently delivering resources to existing business and industry at the local level.

King, a certified economic developer, is currently a strategic partners officer with Georgia Tech. He has a master’s degree in economics from the University of Oklahoma.

Other speakers at the workshop include David Meyers, Ponca City Development Authority executive director, and Ann Gaines, Bartlesville Development Corp. business retention and expansion manager.

Breakout sessions will include creative business financing, new ODOC Web site resources, organizing your existing industry team, e-Synchronist business survey information and interpreting the data, going global and expanding your markets.

The Commerce Department encourages all who support existing business and industry – such as community leaders, economic developers, chamber officials, workforce professionals and education professionals – to attend.

To register or see the workshop brochure, click the appropriate link below. For personal assistance, call Christy Davis at 405-815-5345.

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About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.