ASCENSION RETENTION EXPANSION PROGRAM

Enhance communication regarding areas of interest and concern to identify and address the needs and barriers that businesses may encounter to ensure their survival, success and growth
Retain and encourage expansion in the community
Create a business environment for stable, successful companies

Relationship Building – We can bring together local, regional or state partners that may benefit your business or immediate needs
Synchronist Business Information System and Database – Bundles advanced business retention strategies with a sophisticated interview process to help identify expansion opportunities, companies at risk, as well as company and community problems.
Data & Statistics – assistance can be provided to help with grant applications, site selection questions, expansions, and more.
Louisiana Certified Sites Program – Industrial properties of 10+ acres can be certified as “shovel ready” through the Louisiana Department of Economic Development’s new program. This marketing tool can help better position your site with site selectors and top company executives.
Assistance with possible Expansions – Our team can assist your business with building and land needs, business incentives.
Professional Development – We periodically partner with other agencies in providing workshops that can help you start your own business or improve your existing business and managerial tactics.
Economic Development Specialists - Our statewide partners are at our fingertips to assist with your business problems, questions, and solutions.

We contact businesses (via telephone, e-mail, newsletter, etc.) with information about new/revised incentives, proposed local or state statutes that may impact their firm, new information on labor force programs, “lunch & learn”, etc.
We also contact businesses to conduct a full A.R.E. visit along with our partners, Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) and Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED).

The visit will take place preferably at the company’s location. Formal A.R.E. visits usually run about 45 minutes. We typically visit with companies every 18-24 months.

To gain a better understanding of key drivers of your business, especially those that are locally influenced, so that we can be a problem solver for your company.