AS I SEE IT: You Need to Tell the Story that the Numbers Can't Tell

By Janet Ady, President/CEO Ady Advantage

 

 

 

 

I just spent a couple days visiting a region. I'd done my due diligence, and could rattle off 

a couple dozen of the bellwether statistics about both the region and the state. But the reason that site selectors always go to visit a region is for the story that the numbers can't tell.

 

During my visit, I learned that although the state was known as one that was not very friendly to business, that the region had legislated a process that preapproved zoning and permits for their hallmark industrial park, sidestepping what otherwise could have been an eliminator.

 

I learned that the region had five colleges and universities, in a region with only 120,000 people, and that two of these were undergoing significant campus expansions. I learned that on the agribusiness side, this state had more young farmers than any other state - and the five reasons why.

 

And perhaps the best example of something I learned that would never have come out in the numbers is that this region attracted a major call center, with good wages and benefits, simply because when the prospect company visited its three finalist communities - including the one in this region, and two in other parts of the country - the customer service attitude of random residents made their decision to invest over $17 million to create 700 jobs a slam dunk. (Read more)

 


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As I See It: There's a Place at the ED Table for Higher Education

How can we help you meet your goals? Contact Janet at jady@adyadvantage.com

call 608.663.9218, or connect on LinkedIn

 

We look forward to hearing from you!

Ady Advantage Services

 

Ady Advantage (formerly Ady Voltedge) is a comprehensive and integrated economic development and site selection consulting firm. Our clients include more than 300 economic development organizations, for which we provide support on the full range of needs, including economic strategy, market differentiation, and implementation. Our corporate services focus on helping manufacturers and other sectors grow their businesses through an integrated solution set that includes various components, including facility expansion.


Our focus on both sides of the economic development equation is unique. It gives us important insight into the perspectives, challenges, needs, and sensitivities of site selectors and economic development organizations alike, bringing added value to both. 

 

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