September 30

Speaker introductions and session framework
Speaker introductions and a brief discussion of course objectives, desired outcomes and methodology.

Main Group Exercise - Anytown, Anywhere
This dynamic exercise will provide the underpinning and set the framework for the topics covered over the next two days.

Global factors and trends that impact business retention and expansion policies, programs, strategies and desired outcomes
In this session, attendees will learn about and discuss post-recession global realities and how they have fundamentally changed the private sector, economic development and business retention and expansion.

Lunch on your own

Global factors and trends that impact upon business retention and expansion policies, programs, strategies and desired outcomes (continued)

Workforce development as a driver for business retention and expansion
This session will examine new workforce development realities and how they will shape community building and business retention and expansion programs.

Old and new stakeholder perspectives on business retention and expansion
In this session, attendees will learn about the changing face of business retention through three unique stakeholder perspectives.

Business retention and expansion objective, outcomes and benefits

Business retention elements
Here, attendees will learn about the four mission critical elements of any business retention and expansion program.

October 1

Business retention elements (continued)

One-to-one database marketing and the correlation to business retention and expansion
Key principles from one-to-one database marketing for successful business retention and expansion will be examined and discussed.

One-to-one database marketing and the correlation to business retention and expansion (continued)

Stratifying and identifying your best customers
All customers are not created equal. This session will help attendees identify and understand who their best customers how to utilize with for successful business retention and expansion.

Lunch on your own

Implementation scenarios
Attendees will examine business retention and expansion programs in rural, urban, regional, state/provincial markets and discuss their similarities and differences.

Using business intelligence obtained through business retention and expansion
Connect the dots between business retention and expansion and relevant programs, policies and strategies and learn how to integrate BRE into the larger economic development picture.

Business retention and expansion for disaster preparedness and recovery
Business retention and expansion for disaster preparedness and recovery.

Marketing and branding your business retention and expansion program
You've put together your BRE program, but to connect with businesses, you first need to educate them. Marketing and branding are an important part any successful business retention and expansion program.

Using social media for business retention and expansion
The use of social media is pervasive in today's world. This session will examine its relevance and uses for business retention and expansion.

Leveraging resources and final takeaways
A fast-paced summary of the course and content.

* Agenda subject to change

**PLEASE NOTE: In order to receive full IEDC certification credit for this course and a certificate indicating course completion, attendance at all sessions on day 1 (Thursday) and day 2 of the course (Friday), as well as your participation in the interactive course activities are required to earn full credit. Partial credit is not given.**