The Missing Link: A Vision for Retention & Expansion Eric P. Canada Blane, Canada Ltd. © 2002 Blane, Canada Ltd. The current vision for R&E as an independent economic development program is no longer valid. The dynamics of the world have changed. To remain valid, R&E must have a role in a broader context. If it is to survive, R&E must be repositioned. A new vision for business retention and expansion is critical. The process underlying Retention and Expansion (R&E) is highly customizable to fit the needs and resources of the sponsoring economic development organization; therefore, comparative information is slim. The gap in the literature addressed by the "Results & Outcomes" research is a systematic investigation of program results across a variety of programs throughout North America. The overriding question, "Are we getting our money's worth from R&E?" . View the complete article in Adobe Acrobat