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BR & E <br /> WHAT ASSISTANCE IS PROVIDED HOW CAN I LEARN MORE ABOUT <br /> BY UNIVERSITIES, STATE THIS PROGRAM BEFORE I <br /> AGENCIES, AND OTHERS? DECIDE? <br /> One hundred percent of the most successful BR&E Visita- Visit Other Towns <br /> tion Programs have written reports." The written research <br /> report is important because it summarizes the data from Your best bet is to talk with local leaders in a community <br /> your surveys and presents it in a strategic problem-solving that has done the program. If you have the time and funds <br /> framework. In addition,the report(or a written summary) available,travel to one of these communities to visit with <br /> should show which projects your group considered and their Leadership Team and members of their Task Force. <br /> which were adopted as priorities. The report should list the <br /> problems(as reported by firms visited),the solutions(as <br /> developed by the Task Force and others),and commitments Speaker Phone <br /> to act(i.e.,the names of persons on your Task Force who <br /> agree to help with specific projects). If you don't have either time or funds available,however,an <br /> excellent alternative is to watch the video that comes with <br /> Is it better to have an outside researcher write the report or these materials and then interview one or more local leaders <br /> to have a local person do it? It is not necessary to have an from another program by using a speaker phone. (Note: <br /> outside researcher write the report,but there are several We've had excellent results with this method of contacting <br /> advantages if you do: leaders in other towns. There are tips on how to make this <br /> work in the booklet: Using the Video to Introduce the <br /> • Objectivity on causes of local problems. program and Train Volunteers.) For names and phone <br /> • New perspectives on potential solutions. <br /> Access to a range of expert opinions and resources. numbers of persons to call,contact your state BR&E <br /> • sponsor or check the BREI web page:(http://www.brei.org). <br /> • Professionalism in the content and presentation of <br /> the report. <br /> Many states have a state level organization that analyzes the Contact a Certified BR&E Master <br /> data and prepares the research reports. In some states this is Consultant <br /> done by faculty at a University,often those working with the <br /> Cooperative Extension Service. In other states,the Depart- Other excellent sources of information are Certified BR&E <br /> ment of Development or a utility company handles this. Master Consultants. These individuals have received <br /> Check with your state development agency,your local specialized training on the process of organizing a BR&E <br /> development professionals, or your county extension office Visitation by Business Retention and Expansion Interna- <br /> for information on who does this in your state. Alterna- tional. They not only have received specialized training but <br /> tively,you can obtain a list of researchers from the Business are also backed by a national mentoring system. These <br /> Retention and Expansion International Web Page consultants provide assistance to local groups wishing to <br /> (http://www.brei.org). start BR&E Visitation programs and often do this at no <br /> charge as part of their current employment. <br /> Is It for Our Community? -- 15 <br />