Leadership Development Convening Highlights and Handouts

BR&E 2011 Award Winners

Small Business - Concierge Home & Business Watch

Large Business - Krauss Craft

Oregon Dreamer - Rough & Ready Lumber

Lew Tagliere Business Champion - Steve Roe, Roe Motors

Heritage - Chet's Nursery

BR&E 2010 Award Winners

Business Champion - Susan Goracke, Daily Courier, retired

Business Liaison - Steve Dahl, City of Grants Pass

Lean Manufacturing - Alan Tipton, Master Brand Cabinets

Lou Tagliere Business Education - Lisa Woodruff, Logan Design

BR&E  2009 Award Winners

Heritage Award - The Daily Courier - Dennis Mack

Business Champion - RCC Business Development Center - John Lopez

Business Growth - Taprock Northwest Grill - Dave Thomason

BR & E  Newsletter Oct 2010

Please see bottom for updated Job Council information to help your business!

An Award-Winning Program

In 1999 BR&E was recognized by Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and presented with the coveted "Sustainable Oregon" award as the first of its kind program in the state to provide a unique sustainable approach to local economic health. In 2001 BR&E was the only U.S. program to win the "Outstanding Community BR&E Program" award from BREI (www.brei.org), an international organization. More information on this award can be found here.

Why is BR&E Important?
Most new jobs and investment in a community are created by existing companies. As an economic development strategy, the return on the investment of human and financial resources on local businesses is greater then when invested on prospective new businesses. Plus, new business recruitment is made easier when there is a happy and healthy local business climate and existing firms become ambassadors for the community.

What do we do?
Every three years we conduct surveys of local businesses, then develop strategies to aid them based on the data that we gather. We also host an annual dinner event to present awards to outstanding business leaders. From time to time, we coordinate or help to coordinate special events and projects based on the needs of the business community. The Committee meets monthly, and meetings are open to the public.

Getting Involved
While there are many ways to get involved with this amazing community program, the best way is through the BR&E Committee. The BR&E Committee Chair is Steve Roe, Roe Motors GM.  Regular BR&E Committee meetings are held the second Tuesday of each month at 8 a.m. for one hour. Meetings are held at the Rogue Community College Small Business Development Center. The RCC SBDC is located in the Historic City Hall building at 4th & H streets in downtown Grants Pass.

Contact the Chamber for more information on becoming a member of the Committee or feel free to show up at a future monthly meeting.

The Chamber's Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) Committee began in 1998. The purpose of BR&E is to help existing local businesses grow, expand and overcome obstacles. Formal face-to-face business surveys are conducted every three years to gather vital information to better provide assistance to local firms. BR&E holds an annual dinner each fall to provide awards to outstanding local business leaders and to provide education and inspiration.

Business News for Immediate Release:

The Job Council is pleased to announce that funding designated under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) is now available.

Your Stimulus money is here!!!!  A variety of opportunities are available to help your business.

On-the-Job Training (OJT)
Reimbursement of half of your new employee’s 
wages during training.

Work Experience (WE)
Paid wages for an agreed upon training period.

Jobs Plus
Eligible individuals may work at your business for 6 months at little cost to you.

Volunteer Work Experience (VWE)
Eligible individuals may work at your business at zero cost to you.

Summer Work Experience
Offer an in school youth the opportunity to gain work experience at your business.

Interships
Offer workers age 16 to 24 a work experience opportunity. Get those jobs you’ve been setting aside completed.

PowerUp Academy
Receive training scholarships to up-grade current employeesskills.

Representatives are available now to discuss these opportunities and your questions. You can call or e-mail the representative from your area. Stimulus dollars are limited, so please contact us right away at:

The Job Council Representatives:
Josephine County:   Linda Draper, Business Services Representative 244-3203
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Jackson County:  Pam Farquhar, Business Services Representative 842-2570
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Checkout our website:
www.jobcouncil.org under Business for FAQ’s