Community Leaders Business Retention and Expansion (BR & E) Strategies Program
A community consensus approach to
encourage the growth of local businesses
What is BR & E?
Economic development efforts often require action from many community players. The City of Big Lake has partnered with the University of Minnesota Extension Service through their BR & E program. The program will provide technical assistance, training and research to help the City of Big Lake assess business concerns, understand the structure of our local economy, set priorities, and implement projects to help make our community more vibrant.
The Big Lake Business Retention and Expansion program helps community leaders and communities work together to address barriers local businesses face as they try to survive and grow. The Task Force groups have completed five major projects to address the strategies below. Please click on the case studies to learn about the group’s accomplishments:
- Improving Big Lake’s Labor Availability and productivity (Labor Force Group)
- Improving Firm Profitability Through Technical and Development Assistance (Business Roundtable Group)
- Improving and Promoting the Quality of Life in Big Lake (Passport Program) and (TOD Group)
- Improving City Communication with and Responsiveness to Local Businesses (Half Project)
BR & E Objectives:
Short Term
- Demonstrate community support for local firms
- Help solve immediate business concerns
Long Term
- Build community capacity to sustain business growth and development through the creation of a broad-based coalition
- Increase the competitiveness of local firms
- Establish and implement a strategic plan for economic development
Who is involved in the City of Big Lake’s BR & E?
The Leadership Team introduces and promotes the program in the community, and coordinates task force meetings and immediate follow-up.
The Task Force is a broad-based group of local leaders, including representatives of economic development organizations, the chambers of commerce, business, government and educational institutions.
Business Visitors are leaders from the task force and community.
A healthy and vibrant local economy depends first and foremost on the well-being of a community’s existing firms. Therefore, we are committed to helping local businesses survive and grow through the Business, Retention and Expansion (BR & E) program.