July 30, 2007
Contact: Harold Stewart, Business Services Manager, (480) 312-2311
Scottsdale seeking increased input from businesses
The City of Scottsdale is seeking to better understand the needs and expectations of its business community through expansion of the Building Bridges to Business (B3) Program.
The B3 program includes extensive interviews with businesses throughout the community to gather information about existing conditions. The goal is to identify trends affecting industries represented by Scottsdale businesses and develop a database which can be used to support and modify local and state policies, laws and regulations.
In addition to the city, the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce also is assisting to arrange and conduct interviews. The commitment will help the city better understand how its business retention and expansion program can better support existing businesses. B3 also assists business recruitment efforts by identifying community strengths that help business growth and retention.
Gathering information and conducting in-depth interviews through the B3 program provides a number of benefits to businesses and the community:
- It gives the business community a point to express its needs and expectations related to doing business in Scottsdale
- The format of the interviews generates quantifiable data that can be compared and blended with the information of other companies
- It can identify companies that are successful and characteristics of the community that may have helped with the success. It can also help identify companies that are at risk for relocating and allow the Scottsdale Economic Vitality Department and others to work with the company to help it remain on the community.
- The data can be combined into formal reports that indicate conditions of change and the result presented in the reports can be shared with businesses, community leaders, elected officials and other economic development organizations to create a better coordinated approach to planning programs and policies.
The B3 program in Arizona is a statewide effort underwritten by Arizona Public Service and implemented by cities and towns throughout the state. Data gathered from the interviews is maintained by APS and is reported only as composite data to maintain confidentiality and the privacy of business information.
Businesses are invited to participate in the interview process. The contact is Business Services Manager Harold Stewart in the city’s Economic Vitality Department. He can be reached at (480) 312-2311 or hstewart@scottsdaleaz.gov
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