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Benefits
| Analysis/Reports | Features | Users/Comments | Success
Stories
| Licensing/Pricing
Synchronist
Business Information System®
The Synchronist software is designed
to deliver value, not just results.
The following are examples of
interesting uses of the Synchronist System and resulting data.
These success stories are of course beyond the expansions, helps,
saves, and client thank you letters which clients experience.
Industrial Development Authority of Winston Co. AL
The Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing, IL
Springfield Business Development Corp., MA
Lee's Summit Economic Development Council, MO
Yakima County Development
Association, WA
MidAmerican Energy, IA
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‘Quick Hit’ Stories
"We conducted 12 company interviews and learned about a potential 571 new jobs we were not aware of!" BC
“I have conducted two interviews as tests. Both executives responded very well. One commented,
‘This was a good exercise for me to go through in my own mind. I had not thought much about that
legislative issue we discussed. If it goes through, it will change our entire business in this state.’” TX
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Grady Bachelor
Industrial Development Authority of Winston County, AL
In the 12 months following their first round of Synchronist interviews,
the Winston County Economic Development Corporation (AL) used Synchronist data to make cases to draw new money into the community.
Their success stories include:
 
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$4 M in loans and grants have been delivered or approved for local companies.
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They discovered a niche market no one knew existed. In this case, 80% of a byproduct is produced within 60 miles of Winston County. As a result of this discovery, they have initiated a University
lead research assault to identify attraction and expansion opportunities. The value of the study alone is $250,000.
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They identified an attraction opportunity to supply a local company. The local company imports enough
production to warrant a local branch plant.
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They received $450,000 in loans and grants for community infrastructure throughout the county.
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In spite of these successes, Mr. Bachelor believes the biggest opportunity is yet ahead. Once other regional and the statewide partners have Synchronist data the comparative
information and the ability to document regional issues will present endless opportunities.
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Butterfly Effect…
"What happens when clever, motivated people see fresh new insights into their client’s concerns, needs, and opportunities? Plenty!
The Alliance for Illinois Manufacturing Georgia’s Center of Innovation for Manufacturing Excellence
Synchronist interviews suggested new opportunities confirmed by the analysis of regional/statewide data resulting in major new organization missions.
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The strategic repositioning of the entire organization was based in large part on insights gathered from individual
Synchronist Interviews conducted in coordination with the City of Chicago and ComEd, An Exelon Company.
“The Synchronist experience was very eye opening. Interview findings helped demystify what was going on with manufacturing
in our community,” noted Chris Malthauf, President & CEO of the Alliance. The need/opportunity for strategic change was confirmed
by analysis of aggregate findings from throughout Chicago and northern Illinois.
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Arizona Public Service
Ted Hidinger
“Articles like this* one in the Washington Post make me thankful that we not only have a business retention & expansion
program but a tool like B3 (powered by Synchronist) to manage our portfolio! Thanks again Ted!”
Best regards, Dan Henderson, CEcD
City of Tempe, Arizona
* Companies Like to Move Out One Way: Very Quietly The Washington Post, 2/27/06
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Ann Burke
Springfield Business Development Corp., MA
Success is more that just launching a program, knocking on doors, and filling pot holes. Three essential ingredients for success in BR&E include:
building a broadly based coalition of partners, positioning the program, and patience.
Broad Based: The EDC in partnership with the Regional Technology Council, Affiliated Chambers of Commerce,
and the Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau, the Regional Employment Board, Western Mass Electric, legislative leaders, and others.
Positioning: Business retention… ““It sounds too static, like we’re just preserving the status quo — and it’s much more than that,” Ann Burke said, referring to a new program created by the Economic Development Council of Western Mass. (EDC) called HomeField Advantage. Describing it, Burke, vice president of the EDC,
said it’s all about effective portfolio management — meaning the region’s portfolio of businesses.”
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“How? By essentially enabling area economic development leaders and supporting agencies to become much more proactive
in their approach to business-retention efforts.”
Patience: Good programs are not born overnight. After nearly three years of work and a soft launch six month ago, HomeField Advantage now has traction and is rapidly gaining momentum.
HomeField Advantage has already assisted several companies with specific concerns and issues.
Plus, working in conjunction with the Regional Competitiveness Council, the EDC interviewed about 50 companies large and small
within an important industry cluster to identify common issues, challenges, and opportunities. The information gleaned was
eventually included in a summary given to Gov. Romney on the state of precision manufacturing in the Pioneer Valley,
and also incorporated into the application that eventually landed the $150,000 grant from the Mass. Technology Council to hire
the cluster manager.
James A. Devine CEcD, FM , HLM
Lee's Summit Economic Development Council
When the Missouri Quality Jobs Act passed creating a new performance based incentive for new and expanding companies
in Missouri the Lee's Summit EDC was ready. From recently conducted Synchronist interviews pulled up a list of area companies with plans to expand
as well as those with potential. Each company was personally contacted to make sure they were aware of the new incentive and the potential benefit
to them if they elect to expand in the community. The EDC’s action allowed five local companies to capitalize on the new incentive.
The EDC’s immediate action, at of the date of this writing, helped five companies qualify for $4,425,000 in state
incentive awards as they reach their goals of adding a total of 556 new jobs in the Lee's Summit community.
WIN, WIN, WIN – Company, Community, EDC
David McFadden, Yakima
County Development Association, WA
The staff of the Development Association
believed there was a need in the community for additional business/industrial
sites for both existing businesses as well as potential attractions.
To secure new industrial space; however, required a decision of Council
and a public investment. To build a case for a public works project
and public investment, the Development Association used data from
the Synchronist System. They cross referenced past growth at existing
and newer companies with company zip code information. This information
was plotted on a map using GIS software. Using Synchronist data and
County records, consultants were able to calculate an absorption rate
for business/industrial land. Staff then took the planned expansions
from the Synchronist interviews to plot proposed growth and forecast
the impact. GIS mapping was again used highlighting a growth path.
As part of a larger report, this creative combination of information
and visual resources helped justify $1.6 in public works investments
at three business/industrial parks.
The Result: the City of Yakima
now has over 200 acres of shovel ready sites for growing Yakima
businesses. Without absorption figures and a growth forecast, we
would have had a classic, ŗif we build it will they come˛ dilemma.
Cutting edge analysis and unique Synchronist data helped make the
difference.
MidAmerican Energy,
IA
Iowašs Governor asked the economic
development department to create a list of the workforce skill gaps
that needed to be addressed in Iowa. MidAmerican Energy is Iowašs
largest public utility and a Synchronist User since 1999.They had
rolled-out Synchronist in the 8 largest communities and several
rural counties. Iowa Development Department staff contacted MidAmerican
about the Governoršs request. MidAmerican was able to pull a detailed
list of work force skill gaps covering every area of the State quickly.
MidAmerican Energyšs response was the only factual information based
on real company work force problems that was available to answer
the Governoršs question.
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