We support local businesses to create jobs and increase tax revenues rather than recruiting businesses from outside the region from Parachute to Aspen, and we encourage the development of emerging businesses. Unique teams of advisors will create customized programs of action for carefully selected businesses and entrepreneurs ("clients") and develop targeted networking opportunities for them.
As a first step in the creation of an Economic Gardening Program, our Center is developing access to information from high-powered databases, GIS, and other information tools to increase the competitiveness and success of emerging businesses. In addition to performing research for clients, the Center will be able to provide access to high-level information and analysis for the local governments and institutions.
While we are developing the capacity to provide business information, you have access to market research for your business. A package of six reports and maps combines geographic information system (GIS) technology with extensive demographic, consumer and business data. For more information click here.
Economic gardening is a philosophy that embraces strategies to grow established businesses. By supporting second-stage companies and other entrepreneurial organizations that assist them, we are planting the seeds for a stronger economy. Communities are the economic gardens that cultivate these companies and organizations and create supportive environments where they can thrive.
It is an innovative entrepreneur-centered economic growth strategy that offers balance to the traditional practice of business recruitment. It was pioneered by Chris Gibbons in 1989 in the City of Littleton, Colorado, in conjunction with the Center for the New West. While it was introduced as a demonstration program to deal with the sudden erosion of economic conditions following the relocation of the largest employer in the city at that time, it has emerged as a prototype for a rapidly expanding movement of like-minded economic developers looking for additional methods to generate truly sustainable economic growth. Economic gardening is also the basis for the entrepreneurship programs at the Edward Lowe Foundation www.edwardlowe.org/secondStage/?function=eg.
Cornerstones of Economic Gardening:
1. Information: Develop sophisticated research capabilities using tools often available only to large corporations and governments. Subscribe database services and CD-ROMs which provide access to publications worldwide. Use these tools to develop marketing lists, competitive intelligence, industry trends, new product tracking, legislative research, and to answer custom business questions. Track real estate activity. Utilize Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to plot customer addresses as well as provide demographic, lifestyle, and consumer expenditure information.
2. Infrastructure: Develop not only basic physical infrastructure but also quality of life and intellectual infrastructure. In the area of basic infrastructure, encourage communities and counties to invest in areas such as major street and sidewalk projects, open space, and other projects that are basic 'good government'. Intellectual infrastructure is the curriculum, courses and training, and introduction of best practices that will keep our emerging businesses competitive.
3. Connections: Develop business connections to trade associations, think tanks, academic institutions, and similar companies and CEO's. Build and strengthen connections between industry and higher education and among governments. And, facilitate the formation of industry clusters and leverage the cross-marketing opportunities within local areas, the region, and beyond.
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