FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced to one of the largest regional gatherings of economic development leaders on record the launch of The Business Resource Network, a partnership of Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana County economic development and workforce organizations making it possible for the region's businesses to connect to all local, state, federal and private incentives, technical assistance, training and other supports from one point of access.

Addressing more than 100 federal, state, county, city and local officials representing the three county region, Fisher, who also serves as the Director of the Ohio Department of Development, culminated the Community Briefing by officially endorsing The Business Resource Network and expressing his optimism that the Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull County Network will emerge as both a state and national model for successful business outreach. "This first-of-its-kind innovative approach, he stated, is especially critical during the current challenging economic environment," said Fisher.

Fisher was introduced by Arnie Clebone, Director of the Department of Development's Region 12 Office, who emphasized that, while not a new organization, the BRN is a modern, more efficient and customer-friendly way of reaching out to regional businesses to deliver each of the Network partner's -- chambers of commerce, workforce training organizations, schools, colleges and universities, local governments, the Ohio Department of Development, congressional offices, etc. -- business services to help companies survive, grow and manage change.

Joining the leaders from the Ohio Department of Development was Bert Cene, director of The Mahoning & Columbiana Training Association (MCTA), the organization that originated the network concept and will manage The Business Resource Network with oversight and direction from a Steering Committee of Partners representing business service providers. "The goal," Cene said, "is to do everything possible to retain businesses in the region and help them grow by packaging, leveraging and delivering economic development incentives, technical assistance, consulting, workforce training, and other key services with as little hassle and bureaucracy as possible."

Rather than a businessperson taking too much valuable time to figure out what services are out there and which organization offers them, the Business Resource Network will enable them to access all services through one toll free call or web site visit. And in many cases, members of The Business Resource Network will proactively reach out to them. When a businessperson talks with any partner in The Business Resource Network, she'll know she's getting information about and accessing all relevant Partners' services. And by bringing all partners together to strategize on ways to serve the business, new ideas and ways to maximize impact and leverage service will emerge. Solutions will be comprehensive and NOT limited by the services of any one Partner.

More than a year in the making, The Business Resource Network starts with some of the best proven business retention and expansion strategies and tools in the country and brings them together in a uniquely comprehensive way:

The Network is rooted in the successful Synchronist Business Information System, an online business survey that the Network partners, working as a team, will conduct with targeted businesses. The confidential survey - which covers key areas such as future planning, competition, biggest challenges, workforce needs, etc. - will guide the Network in proposing a specific set of partner services to help that company meet its goals. Then, rather than working with each organization individually, the Network will assign one Account Executive from a participating partner organization to manage all the follow up and service delivery for that business client.

In addition to Synchronist, the Network partners will utilize Dun & Bradstreet data to identify businesses under financial stress and experiencing high growth. Network Partners will seek appointments to conduct interviews with these targeted businesses. Additionally, the Network will factor in regional business sector strategies that represent growth potential - advanced manufacturing, health care, logistics, etc. - in determining which businesses to proactively reach out to. With all these factors on the table, the Network Partners will set very specific performance goals for business contacts, interviews and follow up and track their progress and assure accountability using both the Synchronist Business Information System and a new online planning and collaboration tool - Sync2Group - designed for this program.

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