2017 Economic Development Annual Report 2017 Economic Development Annual Report

Annual Report - 2016/17 Garner Economic Development Business Retention & Expansion These new and established businesses support 1,626 full-time and 390 part- time employees. Garner’s BRE pro- gram surveys the local business com- munity about their current challenges and opportuinites to identify how the town’s economic development part- ners can better serve Garner’s small business community. E xpansion E stimated PLANS INVESTMENT 27% $22.5M of businesses surveyed have plans for local expansion in the next 12 to 18 months will be invested in IT improvements, facility expansions, and equip- ment upgrades 7% have diﬃculty retaining employees 63% 30% 87% have diﬃculty recruiting employees have a formal workforce training program Garner Economic Development kicked off the second year of its Business Re- tention & Expansion program in 2016. Staff conducted 30 visits to businesses spanning 13 industries, including hos- pitality, manufacturing, retail, health- care, and distribution. TWO THIRDS OF BRE CLIENTS SAY JOBS & SALES ARE INCREASING 67% 33% 23% RECRUITING & RETAINING A SKILLED WORKFORCE IS A TOP CONCERN FOR GARNER’S EXISTING BUSINESSES Increasing 3% Staying the same 7% Declining The Senior Employment Initiative is bridging the gap between education and the private sector. In its first year, the job fair brought 35 businesses and hundreds of students together to discuss employment opportunities.” Lisa Daughenbaugh, 4 Career Development Coordinator at Garner Magnet High School 5

2017 Economic Development Annual Report 2017 Economic Development Annual Report | Page 6