Benton Economic Partnership Celebrates Economic Development Week, May 6th - May 10th

Benton Economic Partnership is excited to celebrate Economic Development Week (EDW) from May 6th - May 10th. EDW, established by the International Economic Development Council, highlights the importance of economic development in our region and across the globe.

Economic development is crucial to Benton County’s growth and prosperity. It encompasses various initiatives, from attracting new businesses to supporting existing ones, creating new job opportunities, and enhancing our community's overall quality of life.

“Economic Development Week allows us to take a moment to recognize the contributions made by our esteemed colleagues working in economic development to create more economically vibrant and livable communities,” says Amanda Othoudt, Executive Director of Benton Economic Partnership, Inc.

Understanding the Role of Benton Economic Partnership

At its core, economic development involves a range of activities to attract, create, and retain jobs to foster a resilient and growing economy. This collaborative effort requires close coordination between businesses, government entities, and various community stakeholders to achieve sustainable success.

Benton Economic Partnership dedicates itself to supporting businesses in Benton County. Our services include:

• Business Retention & Expansion (BRE): Support existing businesses to thrive and expand, creating jobs through infrastructure improvements and resource access.
• Marketing & Attraction: Develop and execute campaigns to attract businesses and talent, showcasing community strengths to internal and external audiences.
• Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development: Support small businesses and entrepreneurs with access to capital, space, and technical assistance.
• Real Estate Development: Engage in projects like industrial parks and incubators to stimulate economic growth.
• Incentives: Help businesses access financial services and incentive programs for growth and expansion.
• Workforce Development: Collaborate with agencies to ensure a skilled talent pool, understanding and addressing company workforce needs.

Driving Economic Development: How Benton Economic Partnership Supports Business Success

We want to make it easy to do business in Benton County. We provide small business owners with resources like loans, grants, or education to ensure their business is set up for success. Here are some of the resources offered to small business owners in our county:

• The Benton County Revolving Loan Fund allows borrowers to use county funds for fixed asset purchases such as land, buildings, machinery & equipment, building modifications, or equipment that provides energy efficiencies.
• The Automation Training Incentive Program provides grants to small businesses for the purpose of training existing workers on new automation technology.
• Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing helps businesses secure financing for clean energy projects.
• The ECE Revolving Loan Fund provides funding to businesses that create jobs in the community.

Of course, there are many more resources that Benton County Partnership offers to local business owners. Visit our website to explore the full list.

Benton Economic Partnership: Your Partner in Business Growth and Development

During EDW, we celebrate the hard work and dedication of our economic developers and local leaders, who are committed to driving economic growth and improving our community's quality of life. We invite you to join us in recognizing their efforts and learning more about economic development's impact on our region.

To learn more about how Benton Economic Partnership can support your business or to get involved in our economic development initiatives, visit http://www.bentonpartnership.org.