Crawfordsville and Montgomery County might have many assets to attract business, like a shovel-ready commerce park and industrial corridor, but those things are only part of what businesses look for when determining a new location.
An emerging approach to attract businesses to any area involves looking not just at the immediately surrounding community, but also at the region and even the state, Montgomery County Economic Development Director Bill Henderson said.When he tries to sell Montgomery County as a viable place for industry, he makes sure to mention regional business attractions — like the Indianapolis International Airport and Purdue University.
“It would be a mistake to go out there and limit yourself,” Henderson said. “When you think about the whole piece of the pie for attracting business, you have to look at the region, then the state, and then look at the LEDOs (local economic development organizations).”Starting now and continuing through next year, MCED will take a proactive approach to marketing the county as a viable business site by traveling around the region and country to visit with site selection companies that represent businesses wanting to move or start in a new area, Henderson said.
Site selection firms have made it clear they want to have personal relationships with communities they are investigating, and Henderson plans to give them just that. MCED will focus on the Illinois and Chicago areas next year and is one of only six economic development organizations in Indiana to be able to go with state officials to Chicago to meet with several international firms.
MCED has been to Portland, Ore., and Indianapolis in its mission to promote Crawfordsville’s commerce park and industrial corridor. More here.
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