New year, new business

How is that new meditation practice, exercise regime and nutritious eating going? Have you thought about the same healthy goals for your business or entrepreneurial ambitions? We love the practice of rest, reflection, and revitalization that comes with this season. The Erie County Economic Development Corporation (ECEDC) is here to help you with your new year's business goals. (Disclaimer: We can't do much about that diet.) Our services and tools are designed to help companies think and execute differently — resources for a new sales opportunity, training programs for your new hire or support for your new business idea. For over 30 years, we've helped companies start, stay and grow in Erie County, and here are a few examples of new tools we're utilizing to help your business meet its 2022 goals: 1. The MBET Startup Scholarship — Did you know people of color make up 17% of the greater Sandusky area population, females 51.1% and veterans 10.3%? Yet, only 8.4% of firms are minority-owned, 33% are women-owned, and 10.4% veteran-owned. The Minority Business Empowerment Team, a grassroots collaborative ECEDC and our RISE program are proud to be a part of, is actively working to create more opportunity and build a pipeline for diverse business ownership in our community. The MBET Startup Scholarship is our latest tool thanks to the support of the Mylander Foundation and 4 Love With Love Charities. New businesses and entrepreneurs can receive the technical support they need to get their idea off the ground with our RISE business advisors and earn $625 to help with startup costs. 2. The Employer Resource Network — Workforce needs are not new to business owners. But the tight labor market of the last two years is driving workplace changes and new strategies for recruitment, retention and development. Our workforce arm, Firelands Forward, is here to support companies with these ideas. This quarter, we are launching an Employer Resource Network, a co-op program of six local businesses who will share the cost of a work wellness coach. The wellness coach is set to be on-site working with their teams and addressing any barriers to success at work from childcare to transportation to working with supervisors. 3. The JobsOhio Inclusion Grant — Ohio's private economic development agency is one of many state, regional and local organizations with tools to assist business growth. The new grant was well utilized in our area last year by small to mid-sized companies, pivoting their product lines, production means or employment structure. A machinery manufacturer invested in equipment to address a bottleneck in their process; an agricultural company invested in an e-commerce model; an industrial service provider secured a bigger facility for additional production area; and a food processor transitioned from temporary staffing to full-time positions. If you've identified an avenue for growth, reach out to us to see if there are resources to assist you. 4. A Robust Research Library — Or maybe you're still cooking up that new business idea or evaluating the feasibility of an expansion. Our team has access to a lot of data to help you make informed decisions — industry projections, employment levels, wage analyses, traffic counts, etc. Ground your most important decisions with our team and third-party information. After a few record years of capital investment and growth in our area, we're optimistic that the new year is a bright one for the business community. It won't come without hustle, just like your other resolutions, but ECEDC is here to support. Reach out to me at eriecountyedc.org to tell us about your plans and how we can help. Abbey Bemis Executive director, Erie County Economic Development Corp. If you want to submit a Local Voices column, please email it to brandonaddeo@tandemnetwork.com. Columns should be 500-750 words and include the writer's headshot, or other photo.