FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lori Ritter (920) 496-2110

Green Bay, Wis. (April 21, 2008) – Results from an online business retention software tool used by Advance, the economic development arm of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, indicate that business leaders in Brown County are optimistic about the economic climate in the area.

Highlights from the study, which was conducted from 2007 through March 2008 with 133 area firms representing 14,260 employees, include:

· 81 percent of employees are residents of Brown County;

· 89 percent rate the local business climate as "good" or "excellent"

· 44 percent rate the local business climate as better now than five years ago;

· 73 percent forecast that the local business climate will be better five years from now;

· 73 percent rate economic development in Brown County as "good" or "excellent";

· 94 percent of area companies see employment increasing or staying the same;

· 41 percent plan to hire additional employees within the next year;

· 79 percent rate the quality of the local workforce as "good" or "excellent";

· 92 percent rated housing in Brown County as "good" or "fair"

Compiling a read on the business community is a worthwhile endeavor, notes Barb Fleisner, vice president of Advance. "The future strength of the Brown County economy is highly dependent upon the success and growth of businesses that already exist in Brown County," she said.

"While the summary of our visits have been positive, we will continue to reach out to our existing companies to assist them with their ongoing needs," Fleisner added. "Summary data is important to evaluate current and future trends of our local employment base. Face-to-face time with CEOs and community leaders is also extremely valuable to make sure that local service providers are in touch with what is happening in the real business world."

Advance works with existing businesses on an ongoing basis to determine the health and strength of the local economy, and to gauge and address business issues that could affect businesses’ ability to remain viable.

For more information, or to participate in Advance business retention efforts as a volunteer or interviewee, contact Fleisner, (920) 496-2113.

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Established in 1882, the mission of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce is to promote economic and community development. Chamber programs include Advance, the economic development arm of the Chamber. Advance is a partner in the Business Assistance Center, a partnership of organizations providing assistance and resources for growing businesses in the New North. Other partners include: Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Center for Entrepreneurship, SCORE, Urban Hope Entrepreneur Center, UWGB Small Business Development Center, Wisconsin Business Development Finance Corporation, Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Network, and Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. 

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