The Economic Development
Authority of Western Nevada more
commonly known as EDAWN next
week will begin a lengthy process of
interviewing local companies to build a
data base about the needs of existing
businesses.
The data collected by EDAWN staff
and volunteers through interviews with
about 1,000 volunteers will be a keystone
in the agency's effort to assist the
growth of companies in the
Reno/Sparks area.
Chuck Alvey, EDAWN's president
and chief executive, said last week that
studies find that about 80 percent of
the new jobs in a community are created
by firms that already are in operation.
The other 20 percent are created
by companies that move in.
"We're going to continue working
very hard to attract new industries to
the area," Alvey said. "But at the same
time, we need to take care of the businesses
we have."
Enter EDAWN's Business Builders
program.
Chris Vargas, who chairs EDAWN's
business support services committee,
said the data collected in the Business
Builders program will produce specialized
reports such as:
* The barriers to expansion identified
by local businesses.
* Investment forecasts as indicated
by businesses' expansion plans.
* Changes in the local business climate.
The information will be available to
the entire business community, not just
EDAWN members, Vargas said.
"You have to take care of people in
your own backyard," he said.
The data will be managed by a software
system called Synchronist which
is designed specifically to gather data
in economically focused community
and produce a variety of reports.
Mary Willett, EDAWN's director of
business services, will manage the program
and ensure the integrity of the data.
While EDAWN staff and volunteers
will be making calls to gather data, Alvey
said the agency also welcomes calls from
businesses that want to provide information
before they're called. EDAWN's phone
number is 829-3737. The interviewing
process is expected to take several months.
