摘要：This study used a telephone survey of coordinators of local Business Retention andExpansion Programs (BR&E). The focus of the of the study was to survey BR&Ecoordinators who conducted programs in the last five years to better understand thefactors that lead the community and the coordinator to undertake a BR&E program. We used state program leaders to identify coordinators in six participating states:Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and West Virginia. The statesrepresented programs that had a similar approach to BR&E in terms of a communityapproach which used volunteers by design. A total of 94 Coordinators were identified,and 80 responded to the survey during the summer and fall of 1998 (85% responserate). Of those that did not respond, six were no longer working in the community andcould not be contacted. Initial contact was made by phone to explain the project and toschedule a phone interview. Following the initial phone contact, a copy of the surveyand an explanation of the project was mailed to the respondent. Most of the interviewswere conducted over the phone, but in some cases coordinators sent the surveys in themail.For the most part coordinators reported few concerns or conflicts prior to beginning a BR&E program. However, local coordinators reported that many businesses were notaware of programs available to them and that this was a motivating force in initiatingthe program. Furthermore, many indicated that citizens were not knowledgeable abouteconomic development and the problems faced by local businesses.
