Business Retention & Expansion
Leadership Development Convening Highlights and Handouts
Business Champion - Susan Goracke, Daily Courier, retired
Business Liaison - Steve Dahl, City of Grants Pass
Lean Manufacturing - Alan Tipton, Master Brand Cabinets
Lou Tagliere Business Education - Lisa Woodruff, Logan Design
BR&E 2009 Award Winners
Heritage Award - The Daily Courier - Dennis Mack
Business Champion - RCC Business Development Center - John Lopez
Business Growth - Taprock Northwest Grill - Dave Thomason
BR & E Newsletter Oct 2010
Please see bottom for updated Job Council information to help your business!
An Award-Winning Program
In 1999 BR&E was recognized by Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and presented with the coveted "Sustainable Oregon" award as the first of its kind program in the state to provide a unique sustainable approach to local economic health. In 2001 BR&E was the only U.S. program to win the "Outstanding Community BR&E Program" award from BREI (www.brei.org), an international organization. More information on this award can be found here.
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Why is BR&E Important?
Most new jobs and investment in a community are created by existing companies. As an economic development strategy, the return on the investment of human and financial resources on local businesses is greater then when invested on prospective new businesses. Plus, new business recruitment is made easier when there is a happy and healthy local business climate and existing firms become ambassadors for the community.
What do we do?
Every three years we conduct surveys of local businesses, then develop strategies to aid them based on the data that we gather. We also host an annual dinner event to present awards to outstanding business leaders. From time to time, we coordinate or help to coordinate special events and projects based on the needs of the business community. The Committee meets monthly, and meetings are open to the public.
Getting Involved
While there are many ways to get involved with this amazing community program, the best way is through the BR&E Committee. The BR&E Committee Chair is Steve Roe, Roe Motors GM. Regular BR&E Committee meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 8 a.m. for one hour. Meetings are held at the Rogue Community College Small Business Development Center. The RCC SBDC is located in the Historic City Hall building at 4th & H streets in downtown Grants Pass.
Contact the Chamber for more information on becoming a member of the Committee or feel free to show up at a future monthly meeting.
The Chamber's Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Committee began in 1998. The purpose of BR&E is to help existing local businesses grow, expand and overcome obstacles. Formal face-to-face business surveys are conducted every three years to gather vital information to better provide assistance to local firms. BR&E holds an annual dinner each fall to provide awards to outstanding local business leaders and to provide education and inspiration.
Business News for Immediate Release:
 2009 Grants Pass & Josephine County BR & E Committee Roster | downloads: 763 | type: doc | size: 219 kB |
| BR&E December 2009 Newsletter | downloads: 493 | type: doc | size: 71 kB |
 January 2010 Newsletter | downloads: 495 | type: pdf | size: 68 kB |
| February 2010 Newsletter | downloads: 433 | type: pdf | size: 76 kB |
| April 2010 Newsletter | downloads: 410 | type: pdf | size: 104 kB |
| May 2010 Newsletter | downloads: 361 | type: pdf | size: 124 kB |
| July 2010 Newsletter | downloads: 349 | type: pdf | size: 98 kB |
| August 2010 Newsletter | downloads: 322 | type: pdf | size: 93 kB |