Economic Gardening
FAQs
Q. What is Economic Gardening?
A. Economic Gardening is an economic development strategy that was first coined in Colorado in the mid-1980s. In this approach, secondary market research is used to retain and expand existing businesses, as opposed to spending resources to attract new businesses to a community. As a result, businesses:
- Stabilize and grow
- Create new jobs
- Generate new investments in our communities
Western Washington University's Center for Economic Vitality uses a economic gardening model to support the retention and expansion efforts of business throughout Whatcom County and across Washington State. Leveraging University resources, we are able to provide synthesized and actionable business intelligence that most small business owners do not know about or do not have access to. The CEV is home to one the most productive economic gardening programs in the United States illustrated in on our impact numbers.
Q. Who can participate in your Economic Gardening Program?
A. Any business in Whatcom County is eligible to receive economic gardening services from the Center for Economic Vitality by working through our CEV business strategists. Any business in the State of Washington that is working with a Small Business Development Center or an Economic Development Council in their community is eligible to receive these services.
Q. What is the cost to participate?
A. If you are a business with 500 employees or fewer and are eligible to participate (as described above), there is no cost to you.
Q. How do I get started?
A. For CEV Clients - If you are located in Whatcom County, you should contact the Center for Economic Vitality at 733-4014 to setup an appointment with a business strategist to assess your needs for economic gardening services.
If you are elsewhere in Washington State - You should contact your local Small Business Development Center or Economic Development Council. If you do not know which SBDC or EDC to contact, you may call our offices and we can direct you to the appropriate location.
For Economic Development Service Providers: If you are currently an SBDC or EDC employee, you may submit a request via our online form. You may also contact Jenn Hill or Jenny Kern or call them at 360-733-4014 x 112 (Hill) or 105 (Kern) to discuss your needs and get further information about our services.
Q. What can I expect after I submit a request?
A. For Clients: If you are a client of the CEV, an SBDC, or an EDC and a request has been submitted, you should expect to hear from your contact when the research is completed. Researchers will contact the requesting business advisor with any clarifying questions needed to complete the research.
For Economic Development Service Providers: If you are an SBDC or EDC employee and submit a request, you can expect an email acknowledging receipt of your request and indicating the approximate delivery date of the information. Researchers will contact the certified business advisors and EDC contacts with any clarifying questions needed to complete the research. Once the research is completed, you will receive the information via email. Our practice is to summarize findings in a cover letter and include other relevant information in attachments.
Q. How can this help my clients or my business?
For Center for Economic Vitality Clients: The Center for Economic Vitality uses the economic gardening approach to help businesses grow, using research to assist with:
- Expansion planning
- Competitive analysis
- Identifying customers
- Site evaluations
- Feasibility analysis for start-ups and acquisitions
- Data for loan justification
- Locating capital
- Human resource allocation, compliance and management
- Marketing plans and strategy
For Economic Development Service Providers: The Center for Economic Vitality uses the economic gardening approach to help businesses grow. If you serve business clients, the economic gardening program can supplement the counseling and assistance you provide with secondary market research and data. This saves you time and energy and provides your clients with access to valuable information.
Q. What kind of information is available?
A. The Center for Economic Vitality has access to a wide range of research tools and products. With these tools and the knowledge of our research team, we are able to provide:
- Local, regional and national demographics
- Industry trends and outlooks
- Marketing and business plan review
- Market research
- Consumer profiles
- Import and export information
- Financial and accounting information and education
- Competitive environment and trends
- Wage and benefits data and comparisons
- Human resources management
- Financial benchmarks
- Supplier or distributor lists
- Potential client/customer lists
- Media contact lists
- Competitor lists and data
- Samples and templates for a variety of business and industry documents
- Business structure research
Q. How long does it take to receive research?
A. Typically, research requests are completed in 2 – 3 weeks. Our turnaround time is adjusted as our requests fluctuate. You may contact the Center for Economic Vitality to get information on current turnaround times.
Q. Do you have national and international information?
A. The Center for Economic Vitality has access to a wide range of research tools and products. Many of these tools and resources do offer national and international data.
Q. Do I have to see a business strategist, certified business advisor, or EDC staff first?
A. Yes. Businesses are not able to directly request research services unless they are an established client of the Center for Economic Vitality, a Washington State Small Business Development Center, or an Economic Development Council in Washington State.
Q. What areas do you serve?
A. We serve clients throughout the State of Washington. Please read about our eligibility requirements in above question “Who can participate in your Economic Gardening Program” to participate or information on getting started in above question “How do I get started” to determine how to obtain our services based on your location.