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Attracting Small Businesses to Your Community Attracting Small Businesses to Your Community KORY ANDERSON

What does an entrepreneuer guy know about attracting businesses to communities?

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We tend to look only inside our community

Challenge of community development

St #1 U d t d th th ti

Seek first to Understand then to be Understood

Step #1: Understand the other perspective

Seek first to Understand, then to be UnderstoodSTEPHEN COVEY

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We really know what we want to be when we grow up

Misconception about Entrepreneurs

My Mission

Provide Solutions that make an Impact

My Mission

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My Life Journey as an Entrepreneur

Doer – working with my hands

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Manager – managing with my mind

Leader – leading from the heartFargo, ND Mapleton, ND

Webster, SD Webster, SD

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Business in larger city

Advantages Dis-advantagesg

Availability of Professional and Technical positions

Larger pool of people to choose from

Intern opportunity with U i iti

g

More competitive environment for employees

Less loyalty in production workers

More difficult to attract d t i kUniversities and retain workers

Business in smaller community

Advantages Dis-advantagesg

Easier to attract and retain workers

Very loyal workforce

Family environment

g

Less available workforce

Can be more difficult to re-locate people to

Less available professional and technical workers

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Step #2: Identify WHAT makes a community attractivep y y

5 Requirements of an attractive community

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Opportunity

Resource Opportunity Resource Opportunity • Facilities, building, logistics, people

Business Opportunity • Need for product or services

Lifestyle

Appealing to people• Recreational attractions

• Social attractions

Availability of Resources• Support of basic living requirements

What percentage of lifestyle requirements are available in your community?

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Infrastructure

Good Educational system Good Educational system• Requirement to attract families

Available Housing Strong City management

• Ensure long term sustainability and growth

Community spirit

Welcoming environment Welcoming environment Social networking Feeling of togetherness Strong community support througout

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Vision for growth

Leadership team with a passion for growth Leadership team with a passion for growth Strategic growth plan Re-investment into the community

Reasons for choosing expansion in Webster, SD

Available factory that fit well with our requirements = Opportunity

Community had lifestyle attractions that were appealing to our main employee base

• Hunting, Fishing, and Outdoor Recreation

Strong infrastructure• Good School system • Available housing

Community Spirit • Welcome us to town celebration

Vision for growth • Well thought out sales presentation

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Step #3: Identify WHO makes a community attractivep y y

Who is interested in living in a community that is attractive to Small Business?

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How many of you are actively involved in making your community attractive?

The punishment the wise suffer who choose not to participate in government, is to live under the government of worse men.

PLATO

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The punishment the wise suffer who choose not to participate in their community, is to live under the community of worse men.

Step #4: Take ACTION to build an attractive communityp y

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Identify the Who, then the What.

Leadership Team

Share the communities values Share the communities values Fit and thrive in the community culture Enjoy working together Make the community a better place to be

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Build structure in the Team

Finance/Operations Sales/MarketingBudgeting

Grant/Loan work

Reporting

Community Service Events

Support Existing Companies

Marketing the Community

Selling to new Businesses

Attracting People

Build Relationships

Culture Building Events

Community Vision

Community Values Mission Statement Marketing Strategy Long Term Goals

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Where there is no vision, the people perishProverbs 29:18

Marketing Strategy

Identify what makes you “Unique” Identify what makes you Unique• Stengths

• Opportunities

• Resources

• Attractions

Your Target Market • Who is interested in what you offer

• What type of business or people share your Unique interests

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Long Term Goals

5 Year Target – Where do you want to be 5 Year Target Where do you want to be 3 Year Picture – What does it look like Annual Strategy – What do you need to do to get there

Community Success

VisionPeople

Action