The BRE program aims to build relationships with local businesses to help them stay and grow in Sonoma County. It focuses on one-on-one business interviews to understand issues and provide assistance. The three primary sources of job growth are existing business expansions (80%), new businesses (11%), and start-ups (9%). Common issues identified include permitting, marketing, financing, workforce, and seasonal tourism. The program is praised by businesses for providing assistance navigating permits, making connections, and finding solutions to issues impacting their operations.

1. Business Retention and Expansion
August 26, 2013

2. Business Retention and Expansion
The goal of the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE)
program is to build relationships with local business and help
them stay and grow in Sonoma County.

3. Business Retention and Expansion
Three primary sources of job growth that exist in every community are:
incoming new business (11%) existing business expansions (80%), and start-up
operations (9%).”
11%
80%
9%
New Businesses
Existing Business
Expansion
Start-Up Operations
Source: Blane, Canada, Ltd. “Beyond the Basics – Advanced Business Retention

4. •Program created in summer 2012
•Structured around one-on-one business
interviews
•First organized direct business outreach
program by the County
Business Retention and Expansion

5. Business Retention & Expansion Visits
Listen
AssistAdvocate

6. Business Retention & Expansion Visits
8%
12%
20%
24%
6%
6%
6%
18%
Business AssistanceRequests
Business Training
GreenBiz
PermitAssistance
Marketing
Financing
Workforce
Energy Efficiency
Other
0 10 20 30 40 50
Permitting
Marketing
Financing
Workforce
Vender Issues
Seasonal Tourism
Infrastructure
Key Business Issues
Businesses visited represent 6,227 employees
225 Business Assistance Requests
185 Businesses Visited

7. Testimonials
“The EDB staff was instrumental in assisting the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn navigate
permit processing in conjunction with our recent renovation
project. Their assistance and advocacy enabled us to complete our restoration works
in a timely fashion. Their guidance was paramount in the avoidance of costly
delays.”- Michelle Heston, Director of Public Relations, Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn
Tim Ricard of the EDB was the first County employee from any department to ever
reach out and see how they could help. And he has been as good as his
word, bringing together multiple County agencies to find creative solutions to a
complicated infrastructure problem impacting my business. If this is a trend, we like
it!”- Ed Davis, President, Empire West Inc.
Tim and his staff are always available... He has helped put me in contact with clients
throughout Sonoma County. Without him and his staff I wouldn’t be able to grow my
business.” Steve Herrfeldt, Business Development Manager, Gardenworks Inc
EDB staff took the time to understand my business, evaluated my needs, and
connected me to free business training resources I never knew existed." Shawna
DeGrange, Owner, Cloverleaf Ranch