Business Retention and Expansion BR+E Ontario Update

Stephen Morris, M.A.E.S, Ec.D.

Economic Development Specialist

Regional Economic Development Branch

Ontario Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs

Next Generation of

Business Retention + Expansion

38%of businesses plan to expand within

the next 18 months.

Source: 2009-2014 Provincial BR+E Roll-up Report

What is BR+E

Business Retention +Expansion (BR+E) is a

structured action-oriented

and community-based

approach to business

and economic

development.

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Our Program Goal:

To have the leading and

most comprehensive

……. program for

communities and regions

in North America.

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Review Process

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Collect &

Analyze

Develop Plans & Priorities

Implement & Monitor

Modify

Contributors to the Review

• County of Perth

• County of Northumberland

• County of Wellington

• City of Guelph

• City of Kawartha Lakes

• Municipality of Huron East

• Rural Oxford BR+E

• Region of Durham

• Town of Bluewater

• Town of Minto

• Town of New Tecumseth

• Town of St. Marys

• Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville

• Township of Centre Wellington

• Township of Mapleton

• Township of Wellington North

• Greenstone Community Futures Development

Corporation

• Nottawasaga Community Futures Development

Corporation

• Eastern Ontario Economic Development

Commission

• Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership

• Dryden Chamber of Commerce

• Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs

• Ministry of Northern Development and Mines

• Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sport

• Ministry of Economic Development, Employment

and Infrastructure

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Review Findings

Successes to Build on:

• Acting on Results

• Monitoring outcomes

of their action plans

• Training

• Staff support

Challenges to Address:

• Survey

• Database system

• Data Analysis &

Reporting

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New Process

A Four Stage

Process

Is right

for your Community?

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New Seven Community Assessment Questions

New Coordinator Manual

Step-by-step process with a

greater emphasis on:

• Project design

• Performance measures

• Data analysis

• Priority setting

DRAFT

BR+E Survey Review

Question review principles:

• Assist with strategic planning

• Identify specific business

growth or retention

opportunities

• Provide general business

information

110

65 66

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

120

2008 2011 2015

Number of questions

in the retention survey

Update Retention Survey

A comprehensive survey

Business Information

Business Climate

Future Plans

Business Development

Workforce

Community Development

Updated/New Sector Surveys

Tourism

Manufacturing

Agriculture

Downtown

Revitalization/ Retail

Local Food

Updated Executive Pulse System

Version 6 of the system launch in 2014

Responsive Design

User Defined Reports

Executive Pulse Overview Sessions

Free - webinar sessions on the Executive Pulse

system

• Thursday, February 26th 1-2 pm

• Thursday, March 26th 1-2pm

• Thursday, April 23rd 1-2pm

• Thursday, May 28th 1-2pm

• Thursday, June 18th 1-2pm

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New Provincial BR+E Survey Results

Purpose

• To support communities undertaking BR+E

projects with their data analysis

• To provide context and benchmarking for

communities compared to their local results

BR+E Projects 2009-2014

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73 projects and 3,100 surveys

Provincial BR+E Survey Results -

Business Climate

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N=3,121 N=3,072

Coordinator Training

Updated two-part training program

• Part 1 – Preparing,

Interviewing and Addressing

Immediate opportunities and

concerns (1.5 Days)

• Part 2– Data Analysis,

Reporting and Implementing

(1 Day)

Program Components

Provincial Staff Advisors

Coordinator’s Manual

Surveys

Executive Pulse System

Coordinator Training

Provincial BR+E Survey Results

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For more Information

Visit our website to request a

copy of the BR+E

Coordinator’s Manual or to

register for training.

http://ontario.ca/b34h

Talk to your Regional Advisor

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