Is your community ready? Part 2
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EmailIs your community prepared for potential business growth opportunities? Do you know who your primary points of contact are when the time comes? Does your community have a team dedicated and ready to jump into action when the call comes in?
Is your community prepared for potential business growth opportunities? Do you know who your primary points of contact are when the time comes? Does your community have a team dedicated and ready to jump into action when the call comes in?
In part one of this Michigan State University Extension article we discussed developing a local e-team in each community. Now we will discuss an important component to ensuring success when opportunities present themselves. This component is known as a ready response team.
These teams should be made up of key representatives from your community, who should also be actively involved with your local e-Team. This focused team should meet periodically and ensure their message is concerted, positive, and focused to share with potential investors when the time comes.
This team will not be called upon often, however, when called upon, must be able to mobilized quickly since sometimes these opportunities only present themselves with a very short lead time. Being prepared is critical so identifying these key individuals is critical.
Some of the key members of your ready response team might be your city manager or township supervisor, your local Chamber of Commerce executive, local DDA or main street manager, school superintendent, local bank president, etc. This team is smaller in nature, and economic development is intertwined in some way into their daily duties. These leaders from your community should have a good finger on the pulse of the area and need very little preparation and time to react. The actual make up of your local ready response team may vary compared to your neighboring community, but should highlight your community identity.
By proactively developing this capacity in each community, these efforts not only position your community well, but also help support the stronger regional position, which is great for all who live, work and play in your area.
