Louisiana Business Retention and Expansion Webinar Series

In these tough economic times, retaining existing businesses has become more important than ever. Do you know how to initiate a retention program? Which businesses and industries do you visit? What do you do with the information? Louisiana Economic Development and Blane, Canada Ltd. are partnering to help you answer some of these questions. If you are interested in learning about Business Retention and Expansion or would like a refresher course, please join us for a set of webinars.

A four-part Business Retention and Expansion (BR|E) webinar course will be held on the following dates:

Elements of Successful BR|E                                        March 9^th, 9:30-11:00am

Red Flags and Service Delivery                                    March 11^th, 9:30-11:00am

Securing & Completing Executive Interview              March 15^th, 9:30-11:00am

Turning Information into Action                                 March 16^th, 9:30-11:00am

Each session is about 1hr and 30 minutes. Each session will be recorded for review or later use if you are unable to make one of the sessions. Eric will provide articles, handouts and samples to assist you in your BR|E efforts.

BRE Discussion Forum | Resource Center | Office Hours

All participants will have access to a private LinkedIn group for discussion on any aspect of the Existing Business strategy. Participants will also have access to a private resource site with made up of samples, templates, and reference materials to help you create your own business retention program. Set office hours will be available for private consultation on your questions or program design.

Webinar Instructor

Eric Canada, a leading professional on business retention and expansion, will utilize these webinars to walk you through several aspects of BR|E, including how to:

–        Six levels of an Existing Industry Program (Interview only one)

–        Launch or expand your business retention efforts

–        “Red Flags” and early warning signs

–        Get an interview with the appropriate company executive

–        Reporting techniques

–        Utilize social media for BR|E

Registration Fee

Louisiana Economic Development is pleased to be able to offer this 4-part webinar series to our partners and community leaders at the steeply discounted price of only $25 (normally $495).

This course is ONLY open to economic development professionals and community leaders in Louisiana.

Instructor

Eric P. Canada

Chief Strategist, Blane, Canada Ltd.

Eric P. Canada of Blane, Canada Ltd. is a nationally recognized authority on economic development marketing and business retention.

Mr. Canada has a long-term commitment to professional development, training, and primary research as a way to "give back" to the profession he loves. The Professional Learning Lab is an extension of that commitment.

In his 1995 book, Economic Development: Marketing for Results!, Mr. Canada outlined the application of b2b (business-to-business) strategies in an economic development environment. In his work, he often interviews senior economic development professionals in search of best practices and innovation. He has conducted marketing program audits of 60 of the top economic development organizations in the US.

Mr. Canada created standards for business retention where none existed before. His competitive capacity analysis technique have changed community SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunity, and threat) analysis by providing objective North American Benchmarks replacing the subjective SWOT analysis common in economic development. Now, the Synchronist Key Performance Indicators allow local, regional, and state EDOs to compare their findings to national benchmarks providing a clear picture of their competitive position. He created the Synchronist Business Information System® to manage existing business strategy. He also manages the largest BRE research collaborative in North America.