Business Retention and Expansion

The Business Retention and Expansion program grow>forward, is a collaborative effort between the Columbus Chamber and a number of municipal partners across the region.

Grow>forward is designed to address the immediate needs of the individual businesses with the service providers or resources they need. As the program evolves and matures, aggregate data will help us identify industry trends, shape the development of new programs, and refine public policy.

We must understand the issue before we can work toward the solution. Grow>forward gives us access to the information we need to provide businesses the actionable support they need in their time of growth or in the face of challenges.

Gathering Data

A Web-based tool builds a database of information through surveys and interviews. This database tracks:

• Opportunities for growth
• Economic challenges in key industries
• Services and strengths of partner organizations
• Needs of area businesses
• And more
  Take the business retention and expansion survey

Our database is populated through a web-based survey and one-on-one interviews with area executives. Questions cover:

• Workforce needs
• Financial assessments
• Innovation capacity
• Infrastructure
• Business and economic climate observations

Taking Action

Data we gather will motivate action at two levels:

First, on a micro level, the direct needs of individual companies will be addressed immediately. The Chamber will connect organizations with the service providers or resources they need to grow.

Secondly, on a macro level, common barriers to growth can be identified ay industry, geography and/or company size. This information will be used to identify trends, shape the development of new programs and refine public policy to break down those barriers.

The participation of businesses of all sizes and industries throughout our region is critical to help us extract the information we need to understand the dynamics of our local economy. These are two ways for businesses to get involved.

To participate in a one-on-one interview contact:

Matt McCollister
Vice President, Economic Development
Columbus Chamber
614.225.6953