Community Blueprint - Business Walks - PART 2

(Click Here for Part 1)

How does it work?
The program features a half-day blitz of a business community by trained volunteers who ask business owners/managers a very short list of four questions (see below).

a.)   How is business?
b.)  What do you like about doing business in your area?
c.)   What can be done to improve doing business in your area?
d.)  Would you like someone to follow up with your company after the walk?  

This brief format allows for 100-200 businesses to be reached in two to three hours. A typical half -day Business Walk will include breakfast/registration, training for the volunteers, a business walk in the community, lunch, and a debrief session.  Overall, coordination of the event from start to finish typically takes two to three months.

Why?
The Business Walk Program helps communities create a unified voice and build a stronger relationship between the business community and local government. The program has also initiated change of burdensome regulations, created crime prevention programs and the 3/50 project. But most importantly, it has allowed communities to target and assist companies at risk: saving them from going out of business, relocating to another community, and saving local jobs. Contact Blueprint Events to see how the Business Walk Program can jump start your community’s business retention and expansion efforts!    

Mayor’s Summit on Entrepreneurship

Mayor’s Summit on Entrepreneurship
Presented by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Honorary Host: Mayor Paul Soglin, City of Madison

This half day conference hosted national and local speakers who addressed the state of the startup environment in the Madison Region. They spoke about successes as well as opportunities to improve and there was great discussion created around challenges entrepreneurs face in Wisconsin. Some would say "the event started off with a bang and ended with a bang" (see Cap Times article).

The event was featured in the Cap Times:  http://host.madison.com/ct/business/technology/tools-for-spurring-startup-growth-scrutinized-at-madison-entrepreneur-summit/article_3ba5c89f-03d9-510f-8df5-8233f549a687.html

Welcome Remarks: Mayor Paul Soglin, City of Madison

Welcome Remarks: Mayor Paul Soglin, City of Madison

Mayor’s Summit on Entrepreneurship

Presentation on the Kauffman Index: Evan Absher, Program Officer, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Presentation on the Kauffman Index: Evan Absher, Program Officer, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation

Panel Response: Paul Jadin, President, Madison Region Economic Partnership, (moderator), Tricia Braun, Deputy Secretary & COO, WEDC (left),  Zach Brandon, President, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (middle) and Tom Still, President, Wisconsin Technology Council (right)

Panel Response: Paul Jadin, President, Madison Region Economic Partnership, (moderator), Tricia Braun, Deputy Secretary & COO, WEDC (left),  Zach Brandon, President, Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce (middle) and Tom Still, President, Wisconsin Technology Council (right)

Mayor’s Summit on Entrepreneurship

Mayor’s Summit on Entrepreneurship

Presentation on Entrepreneurial Activities Across the U.S.: Rhett Morris, Director, Endeavor Insight

Panel Response: John Biondi, Director, Discovery 2 Product (D2P) (moderator), Troy Vosseller, Co-Founder, gener8tor (left), Dude Frank, Co-Founder & CTO, Comply365 (middle), and Wes Garnett, Co-Founder & CEO, Kurbi Health (right).

Panel Response: John Biondi, Director, Discovery 2 Product (D2P) (moderator), Troy Vosseller, Co-Founder, gener8tor (left), Dude Frank, Co-Founder & CTO, Comply365 (middle), and Wes Garnett, Co-Founder & CEO, Kurbi Health (right).

The room was filled with a mix of business and civic leaders as well as entrepreneurs from all over Wisconsin. The discussion ended with business leaders and policy makers thinking about what they can do to help create a more successful entrepreneurial ecosystem in our state. One thing for sure... the conversation definitely does not and should not stop here.

Make sure you #createyourownblueprint for every event you do.

Community Blueprint - Business Walks - PART 1

What is a Business Walk?

A Business Walk is an economic development initiative that, in a short amount of time, allows local leaders to get the pulse of how a business community is doing. The information gathered is then used to help advocate for the business community as a whole, and is also used by economic professionals to identify which businesses require further outreach.

Why were Business Walks developed?

The initiative was created because economic development professionals realized there was a need for Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) on a large scale. However, many economic development organizations simply lack the time and resources to do it all alone. To that end, Business Walks can be used to help you quickly identify individual businesses, which are facing threats and/or opportunities, thereby necessitating further contact to direct them to appropriate resources. The program was developed not to replace traditional BRE outreach but to enhance it, serving as an entry-level opportunity for BRE efforts.

Part 2: How does it work? Why have one in your community?