What Business Needs Most is Connections to Other Businesses
Sonoma County BEST’s annual “100 in 100” business retention and expansion (BRE) effort has just passed the halfway point and the most common request for assistance is help in making connections with other Sonoma County businesses. Marketing is the second most requested with talent attraction a close third. BEST is anticipating approximately 350 to 400 requests for assistance by the end of this year’s BRE efforts in late August.
“The “100 in 100” is one of Sonoma County BEST’s most important initiatives, leading to our biggest impact on job growth in the region,” said Anthy O’Brien, CEO of Top Speed Data, a Petaluma firm that has invested in BEST, and also a member of the BEST Board of Directors. “This effort helps businesses grow in a variety of ways, and engages people from around the county in business to business conversations.”
The goal is to meet with over 100 companies in 100 business days and identify ways that the public-private partnership can help companies grow and thrive. With over 60 companies interviewed as of mid-July, resulting in over 200 business assistance requests, the first half of this initiative showed great insight into the region’s business needs.
“BEST has mobilized volunteers around the county to assist in the initiative,” said Carolyn Stark, executive director of BEST. “By working together with regional volunteers and other economic development partners, we collaboratively work to resolve problems and identify issues that help companies in Sonoma County be more successful.”
Each year is crucial as BEST works toward the five-year goal of adding 2,570 direct new jobs to the region. After almost two years in and counting over 1,000 jobs so far, BEST seems to be on a steady track to exceed that goal.
