Since offering the state's first Economic Gardening pilot program in 2014, the Regional Chamber has seen a total of 16 local businesses receive Economic Gardening assistance. In contrast to traditional business assistance programs that focus on finances, Economic Gardening provides information related to strategic growth. Information provided to participating businesses can then be used to develop new markets and refine business models. All research is gathered by a team of four to five experts located throughout the United States.
The Regional Chamber can provide this innovative program to our members at no cost to them due to the support of our program sponsors.
The Regional Chamber can provide this innovative program to our members at no cost to them due to the support of our program sponsors.
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Program Sponsor
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ABOUT ECONOMIC GARDENING
Economic Gardening is one of the oldest and best tested entrepreneurial economic development programs in the country. It provides strategic research and frameworks to help local companies scale up, adding jobs and wealth to the community. It is the original “grow your own” program, tested and refined in depth for over 2 decades in Littleton, Colorado and then in breadth all across the nation for another decade.
The National Center for Economic Gardening (NCEG) was established in order to help states, regions and communities set up and run Economic Gardening programs. The NCEG provides training, certification, and a national team which can immediately start a pilot project for evaluation. The team of specialists use sophisticated corporate tools like database research, search engine optimization, geographic information systems and listening posts to find new markets, provide competitive intelligence and industry trends, assess digital marketing efforts and find qualified sales leads.
The National Center for Economic Gardening (NCEG) was established in order to help states, regions and communities set up and run Economic Gardening programs. The NCEG provides training, certification, and a national team which can immediately start a pilot project for evaluation. The team of specialists use sophisticated corporate tools like database research, search engine optimization, geographic information systems and listening posts to find new markets, provide competitive intelligence and industry trends, assess digital marketing efforts and find qualified sales leads.
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
Privately held, for-profit businesses headquartered and operating in Benton or Franklin Counties that:
- Have between $1 MM and $50 MM in annual revenue or working capital in place from investors or grants.
- Employ 10 to 99 full-time equivalent W-2 employees, including the owners.
- Have maintained its principal place of business in Benton or Franklin County for at least the previous 2 years.
- Demonstrate growth in either revenue or number of employees in 2 of the last 5 years.
- Provide product(s) and/or services beyond current service area to regional and/or international markets.
- Currently are or will become a member of the Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce by the conclusion of the economic gardening engagement.
ECONOMIC GARDENING TESTIMONIALS
The Economic Gardening team was able to figure out who we were so quickly and tailor the information they uncovered to locate solid leads for our growth efforts. We are so happy to have had the opportunity to participate in this program and we want to commend the founder and team members as they are making a huge difference for the small business community."
Jeanne Dillner, SIGN Fracture Care International
I’ve been involved in other types of business assistance, in which large companies would try to mentor smaller ones and send a couple of their people to us — yet nothing ever happened. The Economic Gardening researchers did what they said they were going to do."
John Heaton, Pay Plus Benefits
Perfection Glass was pleased to be selected for the Economic Gardening Program. Through this program, we learned tools and tips to provide our company with information to position us for growth. Thank you to the Tri-City Regional Chamber for offering such an innovative program."
Robert Rojas, Perfection Glass
ECONOMIC GARDENING BILL
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April 1, 2016 - Tri-City Regional Chamber of Commerce staff joins Governor Jay Inslee for the signing of SB 6100, which establishes an Economic Gardening Program in the Department of Commerce. From left, Jake Mayson, Session Aide for Senator Sharon Brown; Austin Neilson, former Government & Economic Affairs Director, Tri-City Regional Chamber; Governor Inslee; Lori Mattson, President & CEO, Tri-City Regional Chamber.
(Photo courtesy of Washington State Legislative Support Services)
(Photo courtesy of Washington State Legislative Support Services)
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