Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E)

Retaining and expanding existing businesses is a surer economic development bet than recruiting new ones from other towns. Extension helps communities understand local business needs and respond - so that businesses stay, grow, and become more committed to the community. Our BR&E Strategies program gets the broader community involved in comprehensive business retention and expansion planning.

We also offer here case studies, community stories, reports and sample surveys that will help you think about business retention and expansion for your community.

• Learn more about BR&E
• See a selection of sample reports & surveys
• View stories of successful case studies

"The most important thing that Business Retention & Expansion does is build capacity. It takes the existing resources of the community and employs them in a strategy designed to help the community…It's important that the consultant not do the work for the community. It's important that the community accept the challenge. 'We're going to do this, and we're going to do it well.'"
Earl Netwal, U of M BR&E Consultant to the Faribault, MN project

Over the past 20 years, Extension has helped over 60 communities show businesses that they care. BR&E Strategies' proven community organizing strategies, effective business surveys, and expert analysis of local conditions can help your community get it done right.

Want help for your ongoing business retention and expansion projects? Our BR&E Tools provide access to research, survey questions, and coaching sessions that help you do it your way - but with our help.

• Explore the Strategies program
• Learn more about BR&E
• See a selection of sample reports & surveys
• View stories of successful case studies
• See a video about one community's BR&E effort

The field of economic development and business retention constantly learns and shares. The University of Minnesota Extension is here to help. Our approach is to involve the broader community in addressing the needs and concerns of local businesses. Beyond creating productive local projects, our approach strengthens ties within the community, and among non-profit, government and business organizations and leaders.

• Download the BR&E process and timeline. (213 KB PDF)
• Learn more about BR&E
• Read research on BR&E visitation programs
• See a video about one community's BR&E effort