Press release from the Northeast Indiana Foundation:
Northeast Indiana Launches Proactive Business Retention and Expansion Program: NE Insider
(March 18, 2010) – The Northeast Indiana Foundation (NIF) has introduced Northeast Indiana’s first regional business retention and expansion program, NE Insider. This program will provide support and enhanced collaboration to the existing individual county programs.
The mission of NE Insider is to connect area businesses with the resources and services they need to thrive. Services include workforce training grants, assistance with infrastructure improvements, zoning assistance and other resources. This program will further strengthen the local economic development organizations’ (LEDOs) ongoing efforts to build strong partnerships between businesses located right here in Northeast Indiana.
“Business retention and expansion is more critical now than ever.” Mark Becker, Executive Director of the Northeast Indiana Foundation said. “As the global economy works its way out of the current recession, the most effective way to ensure Northeast Indiana businesses make it through successfully is to be proactive about their health and vitality. The NE Insider program is a significant commitment of support for the existing industries in the region.”
The information gathered from this program will be aggregated at the regional level to track employment, workforce development needs, growth trends, opportunities for expansion and more. This data will allow Northeast Indiana to be proactive about addressing the needs of companies through partnerships with WorkOne Northeast, Indiana Economic Development Corporation, Small Business Development Center, Region IIIA and Northeast Indiana Regional Coordinating Council, area universities and utilities as well as local government partners.
“The NE Insider program is an effective addition to the LEDOs’ economic development toolbox for promoting the health of existing business,” Rick Sherck, Executive Director for the Noble County Economic Development Corporation and Chairman of LEDO Council said. “Our regional LEDOs are excited about the opportunity to participate.”
Counties participating in the program include Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley. LEDOs will be proactively calling on companies within their respective counties to participate in the program. Businesses can also contact the LEDO within their respective county to schedule a visit. The visit will focus on the industry’s needs, not only to sustain their business but to help them grow. The end goal is to connect the company to existing services to promote growth and continued investment.
The NE Insider Program sends a positive message to companies looking to relocate or expand into the region by providing a support network for their investment. Companies can be assured that when they locate here, the Northeast Indiana region will be sure they have what they need to be sustainable and thrive here.
About the Northeast Indiana Foundation: The Northeast Indiana Foundation’s mission is to support the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership and its 10 member counties through the funding and coordination of charitable activities which directly contribute to its mission of facilitating the creation of new business investment and high quality jobs for the region.
About the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership: Created in 2006, the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership’s mission is to market the 10-county region and team with local economic development organizations (LEDOs) to bring new jobs and commercial investment to the area. The Partnership concluded a successful Investment campaign in October of 2006 targeting an initial operating period of five years. The RP’s global marketing efforts will be on behalf of LEDO’s in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties.
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