November 2003, Volume: 6, Issue: e/11, ISBN 1527-5175

~~~Calendar of economic development events... Andrew Laidlaw on our staff has completed the most recent update of professional events you should consider. Go to: http://www.blanecanada.com/Newsletters/Events/NL_Events.html

~~~Top dogs... If you were to name the top two ED professionals in your state or province, who would they be? a) Send us the name, organization, and e-mail address of the top male and top female economic development professionals in your state or province. b) Who do you think are tops in the US and Canada? Why? We will share the results.

~~~If your "existing business" program... is not feeding your marketing effort solid marketing information and targeted prospects, you are leaving a lot on the table.

~~~Fatal Errors killing a deal... We listed some errors in last month's e-newsletter. Additional ones came in. One reader responded: "Don't lie."

(We assumed that one.) "Failure to disclose all development fees or misrepresenting costs of development. (We went from #2 location to #1 because our competitor did this)." AZ  _Never let the client look bad._ VA

~~~Don't look down!.. Preparing a community to do battle for corporate investment has changed drastically in the last eight years. All of these changes impact the role of local leaders as well as the economic development organization. Many communities still harbor an economic development vision based on the world of the 80's. The difference you ask? Well, if your community is still acting like a growth company in a growth market, don't look down. If you do, you are apt to discover, like Wiley Coyote, you have out-run the ground. C'est la vie! For a marketer, a fight for market share is different than a battle for growth. We can help. Call Eric at 630-462-9222.

~~~_Learning_ is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere._ Chinese proverb

~~~Heard at MAEDC_s Competitiveness Conference in Chicago this week_ _I_ words vs. _C_ words was addressed by speaker William Hudnut III, former four-term mayor of Indianapolis. Professionals involved with economic development should seek to regionalize their efforts. Think in terms of words that start with the letter _C_, such as collaborate, coordinate, consensus, and collectivity, instead of the _I_ words such as isolate, independence, island and even just I.

~David Wilhelm, former political manager/leader and now businessman, states there are three principle lessons in politics and entrepreneurialism. They include: always be the aggressor, take the offensive; drive your competitive advantage; and work to mitigate your competitive disadvantage.

~~~Quotes from various 2003 Blane, Canada Ltd. seminar participants:

~"I am a convert. Our organization is totally focused on marketing. That's our mission. After hearing about your approach to business retention, I see the light." TN

~"The trip has already paid for itself. The quality of information delivered in the first two hours of the course was exceptional." KY

~"Thought-provoking discussions among my peer groups.' FL

~"This is the best course I've taken in awhile and will be beneficial as our organization addresses priorities and re-develops our existing business program." FL

~"A MUST seminar!" MS

~"This workshop should be a requirement for all E.D Managers! Provides a very common sense approach to working with existing businesses. Excellent!" FL

~"21st century methodology." MO

~"I learned to focus on the growth potential for my local program in order to add value to it with little or no risk." NC ~"Great opportunity to learn & network with top notch, professionals in existing industry. Eric is an exceptional wealth of info." NC

~"The course reorganizes R&E from a defensive strategy focusing on "at risk" companies to one that leverages company and industry knowledge into a strategic growth plan."  TN

~"Tell my peers... that it is something they should look into." KS

~"It points out many things we do that don't add to our bottom line." Anon.

~~~Printing presentation handouts... At conferences, we frequently see poor quality handouts printed from PowerPoint. The culprit is often the background. To improve handout quality, click on the "Color/Grayscale" button on the standard Toolbar, and select "grayscale." You'll now see your presentation in B&W view. If text or graphics are printing black on black, you will need to adjust it. While viewing the presentation in the "Grayscale" mode, right-click on the text (or object) that is viewing black and select "grayscale setting." Then, choose "grayscale." Now when you print your presentation handouts, it will be clearly readable. Source: SpeakerNet News 3/28/2003, Joanne Fritz, http://www.SpeakerNetNews.com/ Editors Note: Caution. In some cases, we have seen grayscale make objects you want to be invisible become visible by adding a black line around the object. Experiment with your printer setup.

~~~CIO magazine... In the March 1, 2002 issue, the CIO's (chief information officer) role is identified as part portfolio management and collaboration. That sounds like our Synchronist Business Information System software! Manage your local corporate asset base as a portfolio, analyze your existing companies for value and growth potential - just as you do your personal portfolio. Then, direct ED resources and services to help your best companies reach their maximum potential. That's how you build a community's economy. http://www.blanecanada.com/frameset_synchronist.html

~~~Excite your audience: make them want to hear the person you are introducing. Start with a short story. Rather than start with the speaker's background, tell a story that demonstrates one of this person's talents. Source: Claudyne Wilder, www.wilderpresentations.com/

~~~"FONTS... accumulate every time you  install a program, and if you use a font outside of the typical ones provided by Microsoft - no matter how good your PowerPoint looks, it will look significantly different on another user's machine, lacking that same font." Source: Jim Anderson, MI

~~~Traditional economic development... was based on the premise of Mine It, Grow It, or Make It. Current evolving themes are Assemble It, Outsource It.

~~~Site selection... has changed. You probably have been eliminated before you realized you were competing. Your chances of staying on the list are most likely due to your relationship(s) and your web site. Make these work for you!

~~~Grant writers... are a terrific resource. Community colleges and universities have them on staff. Is there a way to "trade" talent to assist with fund-raising opportunities?

~~~Ross Perot said... "If you see a snake, just kill it. Don't appoint a committee on snakes." Reflect what happened in Hawaii during WWII. An over abundance of rats was controlled by introducing snakes. As the snake population became a problem, the Mongoose was introduced to eradicate the pest. And another problem was created. Do you see the tie-in with economic development?

~~~Have you heard?... It's aging news, but just in case you missed it, the corporate real estate community has a new organization. Formed in July 2002, the Industrial Asset Management Council provides another opportunity for economic development professionals to meet face-to-face with corporate real estate execs representing industrial and manufacturing-based companies. Economic development organizations are invited to join. http://www.iamc.org

~~~Outsourcing Booms... Need confirmation that (white collar) overseas outsourcing is exploding? Do a search at Google for two words "India" and "outsource." You'll generate 89,500 hits, which must explain some of the "sizzle" in the Indian economy. Source: PikeNet Dispatch, 10/30/03 http://www.pikenet.com

Blane, Canada Ltd.
1506 Cadet, Suite 100
Wheaton, IL 60187-7380
ph 630.462.9222
fax 630.462.9210

info@blanecanada.com