A Pacific Northwest Nonprofit

Cultivating Leaders|Catalyzing Economic Vitality

Presented by: Michael Held, Director of Policy and Economic Services 1

• Principles, best practices, & approaches

• Introduce a rural perspective

BR&E Basics

• Case Studies: The Oregon Experience

Impacts & Success

• Lessons learned & key takeaways

• Discussion: How to get started and sustain efforts

Applied Learning

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State of Oregon forms response to spotted owl listing

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State of Oregon forms nonprofit Rural Development Initiatives

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Leadership Program forms (~8k grads to date) 2

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Moving leaders to economic action – a return to our roots

Our Focus: Develop Leaders, Diversify and

Stabilize Economies

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Economic Organizing: Convene a regional summit focused on critical economic vitality topics.

Economic Organizing: Create a fast action, focused action plan for economic development.

Economic Placemaking: Improve your community’s appeal to tourists, future residents, and new business.

Business Development: Build financial literacy and business basics for rural Latinos.

Business Development: Retain and expand existing business.

Leadership Development: Train rural leaders to build community capacity and create community vitality.

Economic Vitality

Roadmap

First Impressions

Pasos al Éxito

Economic Vitality Summit

BR&E

Leadership Services

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ABOUT BR&E: THE THREE LEGGED STOOL

“Business retention and expansion should not be viewed as an optional

exercise in economic development or the second or third leg in the stool.

Business retention and expansion is the underpinning for all other

successful and sustainable economic development initiatives in any market”

area.” – The BR&E Guru

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1. Grow what you

have (BR&E)

3. Grow from the dirt

(Entrepreneurial/Small Business Development)

2. Bring in the new

(Business

Recruitment/Attraction)

Develop Solutions

• Strategies

• Celebrate

Program Design & Outreach

• Develop program structures

• Visit businesses & gather information

• Synthesize results

Connect Resources

• Organize service partners

• Connect businesses

Plan and Organize

• Goals & Objectives

• Identify partners and resources

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Y E A R 1

O U T R E A C H

Y E A R 2

O U T R E A C H

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RDI & City-led

5 Partners

Staffing .25 fte

23 Businesses – 8 week period

20 Volunteers/Practitioners

City-led

8 Partners

Staffing .50 fte

12 Businesses – 6 week period

8 Volunteers/Practitioners

Y E A R 1 O U T R E A C H Y E A R 2 O U T R E A C H

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$8k (city staff)

$30k (foundations grant to RDI)

$16k (city staff)

$12k (foundations grant to RDI)

$2,500 (community contributions)

KEY METRICS SINCE 2016 (35 BUSINESSES)

2 businesses retained (7 jobs); 1 business succession (2 jobs) = 9 total jobs retained18 Referrals for technical assistance and business support services

7 Businesses connected to city services/incentives

8 Businesses actively followed through w/referrals

3 Businesses referred for capital

Over 40 community members involved

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1. Public Infrastructure (broadband)

2. Business Infrastructure (quality & availability

of downtown retail space)

3. Business to Business Relationship Building

4. Business Tools and Resources

5. Workforce

6. Business to Community Relationship

Building

7. Access to Capital

Prioritized by business leaders, community

members, and city staff

Workforce – Community Led / City Staffed

•Connected to Workforce Lane Partnership and WorkSource Lane

•Participated in the Elmira H.S. Career Fair

•Facilitated a partnership between FCR and WLT

•Advocated and secured increase in bus routes to/from Eugene

•Created an action plan of yearly activities for the City to engage in

Downtown Infrastructure – City Led / City Staffed

•Conducted broadband feasibility study

•City working with providers on expansion (2018)

•Completed Downtown Market Analysis to aid in retail and property development

•Working with 2 property owners for possible new development

Business Services – Community Led / City Staffed

•Formed partnership with Veneta-Fern Ridge Chamber of Commerce

•Partnership with Community LendingWorks, LCC SBDC, and RAIN

•Secured $2,500 in private contributions for Veneta Small Business Assistance Center

•Sponsored and planned the first annual Local Business Showcase with 46 local businesses and over 250 community members

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Y E A R 1 O U T R E A C H

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RDI & Main Street Nonprofit Led

6 Partners

Staffing .30 fte

33 Businesses – 10 week period

22 Volunteers/Practitioners

Y E A R 1 O U T R E A C H

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$10,000 (City grant to Main Street)

$3,500 (Bank of The West grant to RDI)

$2,500 (US Bank grant to Main Street)

$1,000 (Gas Utility grant to Main Street

$25,000 (foundation grant to RDI)

KEY METRICS SINCE 2016 (33 BUSINESSES)

3 businesses retained (5 jobs);

22 Referrals for technical assistance and business support services

7 Businesses connected to city services/incentives (2 façade projects underway)

11 Businesses actively followed through w/referrals

6-8 Business expansionsOver 30 community members involved

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A CLOSER LOOK @ UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

6-7 Businesses Need Storage

Vacant Building Recently Purchased

Owner/ Entrepreneurially Driven

Developing Business Model for Shared Storage

1 New Business

Several Business Expansions

Success!

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33 Businesses

6 Succession

Plans

Workforce Partnerships

Technology T.A.

Multiple Relocations

A Rural Approach to BR&E: 6 Tips to

Success

2. Partners, Partners, Partners 3. Cast the Net:

Volunteers & Practitioners

6. Build Stable

Funding Model

5. Build Capacity & Start Small

4. Targeting Businesses: Be Strategic

1. Forget the Data: Build

Relationships

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• Don’t get hung upon strategy, start small, build partnerships

There is no right, or wrong, approach

• Bring partners together to collaboratively develop and determine scale, scope, roles & responsibilities

Create Buy-In

• Communicate value to funders: sell your program!

Invest in a local coordinator

• Make long term, annual, commitment to BRE as your go-to eco dev strategy

Invest in the program

• In the beginning, overall strategies should be short term (90 days)

Short term strategies, at first

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• Without dedicated staff, take a team approach and/or use CRM software

The business referral process is the most important and challenging thing you’ll do

• Utilities and banks make great partners and champions

Engage the private sector for support

Secure $10,000-$20,000 for a Local Coordinator’s

time

Allocate a minimum of .25 FTE – build from there

Allocate at least 6 months for 1st year

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1.Conduct business outreach annually,

maintain the momentum

2.Provide meaningful business follow up

services

3.Evaluate and communicate results

4.Celebrate successes

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“BRE can be a success

anywhere when a community

commits to the philosophy of

supporting its existing

businesses, I’m glad we did.”

- Matthew Klebes, Economic Development Manager The Dalles, Oregon

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Thank you, Edmonton!

Cultivating Leaders|Catalyzing Community Led Action

www.rdiinc.org

Contact Info RDI Phone: 541-687-9077

mheld@rdiinc.org

A Pacific Northwest Nonprofit

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