Through the Partnering for Progress (P4P) initiative and those involved, Darke County has been intently focused on improving its development efforts and its service to existing county business. Now, another piece of that future foundation has been set in stone.
The BusinessFirst! program was officially rolled out last week as a training and orientation session was held for the systems’ main users at Midmark Corporation in Versailles. BusinessFirst! uses a customer-oriented approach to economic development designed to link businesses to resources in the community. The program, which will run out of the Economic Development Office, will be used in collaboration with multiple county towns and organizations.
“The program will allow us to better assess and follow-up on the needs of individual businesses,” explained Economic Development Director Marc Saluk. “At the same time, it also will provide a platform for the county and the individual communities to partner together on service to those businesses.”
Saluk added that the system would also provide continuity when it came to managing business relationships in the county, explaining that future development personnel will now have a snapshot of the localities’ interaction with any given company.
At the event at Midmark, 27 VIP’s from around the county and region were on-hand to learn the value of utilizing the BusinessFirst! program. Attendees included county mayors and village administrators, P4P investors, DP&L and Vectren, officials from the Ohio Department of Development, and other key county personnel.
The three-hour session included training for personnel that would use the web-based system on a daily basis to enter and track company relationships (outreach professionals) and representatives from organizations that have a strong impact on the business community (Resource Partners) such as the utilities, chambers of commerce, and small business centers.
“That’s part of what makes BusinessFirst! so effective,” said Saluk. “It ensures that the proper resource is brought to bear on any company need. The system then plays a huge role in ensuring follow-up. It helps keep things from falling between the cracks.”
Saluk also explained that, because BusinessFirst! is utilized across the metro Dayton area, Darke County businesses now have a stronger tie-in with other regional resources. Additionally, the county itself will have access to regional data that can be used for business attraction and other development efforts.
Though the P4P participants played a major role in obtaining, administering, and funding the BusinessFirst! program in Darke County, the effort got a major boost from a grant from the HOPE Foundation.
"This system exemplifies the mission of the HOPE Foundation, creating continuity among Darke County communities and encouraging a cooperative method of enhancing business relations,” stated HOPE President Christy Prakel. “That's what the HOPE Foundation is all about: making Darke County a better place to live and work."
According to the Montgomery County website, the BusinessFirst! program has been instrumental in helping the following companies to stay and grow in the region: IMI Norgren, Smiths Aerospace, SK Tech, Paxar, Dayton-Phoenix, Inc., Moto Photo, ConSpan Bridge Systems, Appleton, and LORD Corporation.