Business Retention & Expansion

Keeping Businesses Strong

A healthy and vibrant local economy depends on the well-being of a community's existing firms. That is why we want to help you survive and thrive in the City of Danville. 

If you are successful, the entire community benefits because:

• 65% - 80% percent of all new jobs are created by existing firms
• Businesses that stay competitive are more likely to remain in the community and possibly expand
• Keeping an existing business is often easier than recruiting a new business
• Potential new business owners will talk to existing business owners

In the short term we can:

• Demonstrate support for local businesses
• Help locate resources to address immediate business concerns
• Establish an early warning system for business closings, relocations, and / or layoffs

In the long term we can:

• Improve the local business climate
• Increase the viability of local businesses
• Establish and implement a strategic plan for economic development
• Support entrepreneurial activity by uncovering local buying habits and supply needs

The Business Retention & Expansion Program

The Business Retention and Expansion Program is designed to gather information to help us better support business expansion, job retention, job creation, and increased investment in the community. As part of the program, Community Development staff will visit local businesses to obtain comprehensive information regarding the opportunities and challenges that exist for local business owners. The visits and items discussed during the visit are kept completely confidential and are geared toward small and large businesses so that everyone can participate in the economic renewal process. 

After the site visits, businesses may receive guidance on particular issues. The data collected through the program will be used to create a community-wide economic development action plan which will include specific objectives and action items. Gathering this information will give us a full picture of the economy in Danville-Boyle County. 

The city's Business Retention and Expansion Program is right for you, if you:

• Want a single point of contact for the many business services throughout Danville-Boyle County
• Need an advocate who can walk you through necessary approvals and permits
• Do not know who to contact at various local government agencies
• Are looking for information on regional, state, and federal resources to improve your business

The Process

Schedule a Site Visit

The business visitation team will use a specially-designed questionnaire to obtain information on the needs of each business, issues it may be facing, and its future plans, building a unique profile for each business. Your response is confidential and should only be used to find personalized solutions for your business. Contact to schedule

Participate in Follow-Up Visits

Community Development staff will conduct regular on-site surveys to continue to evaluate the needs of the business and address its concerns.

Provide Data for Action Plan

Our team will help develop an action plan to address opportunities and obstacles that surface through the visitation program as well as many other initiatives, as needed. This plan will outline the most pressing issues identified by the business community.

Attend Business-Building Events

Finding support through your network of local business owners and business resources is crucial to the success of any business. It takes a village! Look for business-building events like workshops, networking events, and competitions in Danville! (Don't worry! We will send reminders if you ask!)