Often the best chance of creating new jobs for a community comes from existing businesses. That's why community leaders should keep track of who's hiring, who's cutting back, who's looking for more space and what's standing in the way of growth.

LCRA's Business Retention and Expansion Program can help identify problems facing existing businesses and determine opportunities for growth.

A retention and expansion program is a multiple-step process. Steps include a survey of local businesses to better understand employment history, expansion needs and barriers to growth. The results are put in a database and summarized.

With that information, LCRA staff works with community officials to develop a plan to address problems and opportunities identified in the survey.

LCRA can help communities customize surveys to meet their specific needs.

While existing businesses are the backbone of a local economy, new employers can add vitality. When a prospective employer comes knocking, a community must be able to respond quickly with accurate and pertinent information. The community also must be able to reach out efficiently, targeting industries and businesses whose needs match the community's resources and desires.

LCRA staff works with customers individually and regionally to create marketing plans to recruit business and help existing businesses expand. Priority is placed on providing customized service to individual customers.

The team works in partnership with LCRA customers to market the service area as a preferred location to live, travel, invest and do business.

Recruitment staff has plenty of tools to help communities recruit. For example, LCRA subscribes to Dun & Bradstreet's corporate information services, which has information on more than 15 million U.S. companies. These reports help communities evaluate prospective companies. They also help determine what level of financial assistance, if any, is appropriate to offer new companies.

LCRA staff works with communities to develop targeted lists of companies that match community needs for direct-mail marketing campaigns. Staff can also help develop the marketing materials.

Business recruitment staff has a network of contacts in state agencies, real estate companies, law firms, utilities and transportation providers. Many customers use these resources in their recruiting.

For more information on Business Retention and Expansion Programs and recruiting programs, contact Economic Development.