Business Retention/Expansion (BRE) Program

The Business Retention/Expansion (BRE) program benefits area companies and Chamber membership by providing information about resources available to their businesses. The BRE program consists of:

• One-on-one Meetings
• Small Business Recognition Program
• Incentive Workshops

One-on-one meetings

The Business Retention Expansion (BRE) staff meet with area companies to:

• Personally visit on-site to learn more about the business.
• Discuss areas of concern and, when appropriate, follow up with research results to aid the company in solving any issues.
• Identify companies that have potential for growth as well as companies that are at risk and need assistance.

Meetings are rotated among Topeka businesses, or upon request. To schedule a meeting, please email Dan Schemm or call him at 234-2644.

Small Business Recognition Program

The Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) staff host several events each year to recognize area businesses:

• Small Business Awards recognize up to three area businesses for their contribution to the economy. This event is held during Business Appreciation Month (May) each year. Chamber members are invited to nominate local Chamber businesses for the awards. To nominate a local business, please contact Dan Schemm at 234-2644.
• Company Visitation Program informs community leadership and policy makers about area businesses that contribute to the local economy. Community leaders visit three companies and then report back to staff their results.
• Community Plant Tours provide opportunities for community leadership and policy makers to learn more about area manufacturers. This group tours two businesses each year.

Incentive Workshops

Local workshops provide education on incentives and resources available to companies. Four workshops are held each year:

Three workshops are held each year to address all interested businesses.

2008 Workshops will be:
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008

One workshop is held for bankers, engineers, accountants, and attorneys so that they can inform their business clients of the resources available to them.

The next workshop for this audience will be:
Tuesday, October 7, 2008

To sign up for a workshop, please email Darlene Stottmann or call her at 785-234-2644.

By attending the incentive workshop last year, Smith Audio Visual has been able to obtain specialized training and matching training dollars -- more than $1495 per student -- for our growing installation staff. The EST (Electronic System Technician) course goes beyond WTI and Kaw Area Technical School, benefiting even the highly experienced installer. It also helps our firm offer value added service and products, and will save the end-user dollars in the long term with better quality installations at a fair price. I am looking at more incentives as Smith Audio Visual continues to grow.
--Larry Heilman, Smith Audio Visual, Inc.