According to a North Carolina Department of Commerce statistic, 80% of all new jobs come from existing business through expansions. This knowledge prompted the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to work even harder to show local business owners that the community wants them to succeed. In June 2010, the Montgomery County EDC Business Visitation Team was formed with the support of county commissioners and under the leadership of Judy Stevens, executive director of the EDC.
The team’s goal, over time, is to visit all 400+ Montgomery County businesses to make them aware of the local, state and federal resources which are available to help them succeed, grow and create jobs. These resources include not only the Montgomery EDC, but also the NC Department of Commerce, the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC), the Employment Security Commission, Job Link, Montgomery Community College, Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County Schools and Progress Energy.
During the meetings, the Montgomery County EDC thanks each business owner for the jobs they have created and the investment they have made in the community. The visitation team presents information about their particular area of expertise and also learns more about the business in order to offer them the best range of
services to meet their needs. As a result of these meetings, the team has been able to assist businesses like Carolina Growler with employee training, development of policies and procedures, identification of government contracting opportunities, and participation in the SBTDC’s Biz Boost program, an in-depth set of advisory services to help companies develop and implement strategies to grow their business.
Montgomery County EDC’s Business Visitation Team is a model local business support program that makes sure its business owners know who to contact for support when there is a need. It engages key resource partners and makes existing businesses fully aware of services and assistance that can help them grow.
To learn more about the Montgomery EDC Business Visitation Team, contact Judy Stevens at (910) 572-2575 or visit www.montgomery-county.com.