July 2004, Volume: 7, Issue: e/7, ISBN 1527-5175

~~~Bill Cosby says... "I don't know what the key to success is, but I do know that key to failure is trying to please everybody."

~~~Team work... around Oklahoma City has generated many accomplishments and recognition. The 10 counties and 39 economic development organizations have developed a web-based GIS Internet site, enhancing the process of real estate and economic development by providing detailed local, regional and national data. Through the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber and its establishment of the Greater Oklahoma City Partnership the region is better represented with this availability of data. The model provides user-defined and industry-specific information related to real estate analysis. The site currently offers 1,080 individual commercial properties and 256 individual brokers. CoreNet Global recently bestowed the 2004 Economic Development Leadership and Accomplishment Award for the innovative and time-saving model. See for yourself: www.okcedis.com

~~~Greg Last has accomplished a feat... Over the past several years, he has compiled a Summary of Economic Development Terms. The 91 pages offers over 700 definitions/descriptions and is available on the Internet! Contact Greg for details at: glast@ci.southlake.tx.us Be sure to congratulate him and say "THANKS"!

~~~Rural development policy... is too focused on the problem and not enough attention paid to opportunities, according to Michael Porter and colleagues of Harvard University. "Policy does not seem to drive rural development, but responds to special interests. The many sensible ideas proposed by experts are not acted upon." This has been brought to our attention by Don Ianonne, www.don-iannone.com/edfutures For "Competitiveness in Rural U.S. Regions" report summary click here: http://www.eda.gov/Research/ResearchReports.xml

~~~Your opinion please... Name three of the best speakers you have heard on an economic development topic. Send your top three list (speaker, organization/event, and topic) to: nblane@blanecanada.com

~~~Another firm... with a track record of fundraising assistance that was not included in the last month's list of fundraising companies is the Resource Development Group. The company recently merged with Capital Funding Strategies. Rob Radcliff is a principal. http://www.rdgusa.net.

~~~How do you view yourself in the economic development arena?... "I view myself as a broker of knowledge. If I do not know the answer or the information, then most likely I have a contact who does." Gina Everetts, Tennessee Valley Authority

~~~Quotable... "Technology alone, no matter how customizable or sophisticated, will never produce results without a business backbone." "ROI actually measures the amount of change in a business." "Customer strategy equals business change." Apply this thinking to your organization. Does it measure up?  Quotes: panel presentation, CRM's top archrival technology vendors, SAP and Siebel presenting at Smart CRM West Conference, 6/04

~~~Definition please... Bill in TX wants a definition for "suspect" and "prospect". There are two ways to define a prospect (yes, you read correctly). A prospect has a defined project, budget, and time line. A prospect has been to the community to "kick the tires". Everyone else falls into the category of wishful thinking (suspects). Source: "The Physics of Marketing" by Blane, Canada Ltd.

~~~Traditional business retention... is so focused on identifying company problems, community problems, helping retain companies, and creating a relationship with company executives that it fails to create real, substantive value for the development organization. True value positions the organization in a leadership position long after the visits are completed. To learn more about building value into R&E, read "The Missing Link". http://www.blanecanada.com/frameset_missinglink.html

~~~Telephone systems can be a pain!... Many systems are "so good", they don't allow for human contact! Ever frustrated by trying to reach someone and continuously being blocked by the system? Check your telephone system. Have someone outside your organization try reaching several people from the main number. Can your staff be reached within a reasonable number of steps? If not, get it re-programmed. We, too, have been thwarted on a few occasions by the all-controlling telephone tree of options!

~~~Partnerships... seemed to be a popular theme among most successful business retention and expansion programs. Each success story of a BR&E program has an irreplaceable ingredient: regional collaboration. If your area is going to lose a company, why not lose it to another area within your state borders rather than to another part of the country. It's all about retaining and creating jobs, not just in your local community, but your region as well.

~~~The main reason... sales are lost is not poor quality or rotten service. "Apathy after the sale" is the primary reason that businesses lose customers, according to Jay Conrad, "Guerilla Marketing". He suggests a numbing 68% of all business lost in America is due to apathy after the sale. Are you taking care of your success stories? What's your business' development strategy? Source: Jay Conrad, "Guerilla Marketing"

~~~"It is clear... Synchronist was designed by someone who understands the problems faced by economic development professionals who are responsible for existing business programs."  Synchronist Business Information System user, British Columbia, Canada

~~~38 states and provinces... have Synchronist (desktop and Internet versions). Another upgrade is due out at the end of 2004. www.blanecanada.com/frameset_esynchronist.html

~~~85% of viruses... are spread by employees opening infected e-mail or attachments, without giving a second thought. "CFO" magazine, summer 2004

~~~Fund raising... There are several companies to talk with when contemplating a fund raising campaign. They are: R&M Resource Development (Michael McCarthy) www.rmresource.com, Stellar Fundraising (Terry Cusack) http://www.stellarfundraising.com/, and NCDS (Howard Benson) http://www.ncdsinc.net/

~~~28 states... have anti-off shoring bills pending, according to "CIO" magazine. Here's the full article, "Offshore Regulations: What to Worry About," June 15, 2004, p. 64

~~~40 states are targeting biosciences... according to a new Battelle Memorial Institute report released at the recent Bio (Biotechnology Industry) Conference. All 50 states have technology-based economic development initiatives that are available to bioscience companies. See the full report at http://www.bio.org/speeches/pubs/battelle2004.pdf

~~~"Activity is contagious"... said Ralph Waldo Emerson. More narrowly defined strategies and careful implementation, though, are critical to success.

~~~Web search engine... If you are in love with the flash opening on your web page, think about this. "Flash video on your home page makes that page invisible to web search engines! No home page, no site index record!" Source: Terry from Oakland, CA at the Economic Development Gardening conference in Santa Fe, NM

~~~Speaking of innovation... A "Fast Company" article on Apple Computer's Steven Jobs raised a provocative question, "Is innovation enough?" Apple has been extremely innovative. Their innovations have powered the personal computer industry. Yet, Apple accounts for a mere 2% of the industry's sales. Execution is critical. A new movement is afoot to push execution ahead of ideas in the battle for success.

~~~Think about it... The single common denominator of all essential marketing activities is writing. Becoming a better writer is "pumping marketing iron." Source: Robert  Middleton, "More Clients - the Online Marketing Newsletter for Independent Professionals

~~~Clever analogy... Al Jones, TX, wrote us about William Penn's and Benjamin Franklin's early contributions to economic development. Penn pursued land acquisition from the King back home in England. Franklin's inquisitive and hard work ethic helped to establish a hospital, library, university, service club/leadership training, firefighters, postal service, progressive Indian negotiations, contacts with British and French intellectuals/scientists, and a regional printing firm/national publishing operation. Penn would be construed as a present-day economic developer, while Franklin could be regarded as the entrepreneur/crackpot/organizer.

Keep those entrepreneurs within vision. They might transform your horizon.

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

info@blanecanada.com