Learn from host Sandy K. Baruah, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. and a panel of experts in a discussion about business retention and expansion. The telecast will focus on "how-to" examples that feature local, regional, state, and multi-state initiatives.
Amy Bunton is responsible for overseeing the creation of the Tennessee Valley Authorityís (TVA) effort to support existing businesses and industry in job creation and capital investment. The TVA is the public power provider for a seven state region in the Southeast. Last year it directly contributed to the recruitment or retention of 52,000 jobs in the region. She is the incoming president of Business Retention Expansion International (BREI), a non-profit association of economic development professionals who are working for the advancement of business retention and expansion as an economic development strategy for communities.
Terry Dickey, Director of Economic Development for the Cincinnati USA Partnership, will present a win-win approach to business retention by the use of their Regional Business Retention Committee who meets with 300-400 companies annually within the Cincinnati USA region.
Joseph McClure will demonstrate how a rural area incorporated volunteers into a program known as Business Expansion and Retention or BEAR that has evolved into a three-tier network of volunteers.
Tune in to what promises to be a lively discussion on business retention and expansion and learn how to maximize results, retain jobs and talent, and increase exports. Discover new ways to partner, collaborate, and cooperate in a regional setting.
Contact: Vaughan Wingfield, EDA University Center
(501) 569-8519
vswingfield@ualr.edu
or
Neva Wayman
(501) 569-8551
nfwayman@ualr.edu
