Business Retention & Expansion

The BR & E Strategies Program is a collaborative effort of Minnesota counties and the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Tourism BR& E programs build the capacity of Minnesota communities to retain and expand their local existing businesses that service the traveling public. With the help of the BR & E Strategies Program you can:

  • Demonstrate to local tourism and travel related businesses that the community appreciates their contribution to the local economy;
  • Help existing firms solve problems and local concerns;
  • Assist local tourism and travel related businesses in using local, state, and federal programs aimed at helping the firms become more competitive; and
  • Develop strategic plans for long range tourism and travel-related business retention and expansion activities.

Experts guide you through the program and to do the research necessary to help you respond to the needs of your local firms. But it's your community and you are in charge!

Audience

Tourism BR & E programs are aimed at enhancing existing tourism and travel businesses in communities. Programs are typically conducted at the county level, but other boundaries may be considered. Local sponsors are often chambers of commerce or regional tourism organizations interested in focusing on the many service businesses that characterize the tourism industry.

Additional Information

For more information about Tourism Business Retention and Expansion Programs, please contact: Dan Erkkila (erkkila@umn.edu) at (218) 327-4361

For more information about other Business Retention and Expansion Programs, visit the University of Minnesota Extension Service's Business Retention & Expansion Strategies Program.