Gwen Kurz, Secretary-Manager at the Chamber of Commerce is presently leading a Business Retention and Expansion ( BR+E) program among Dryden area businesses.
 
The Business Retention and Expansion program is a community-based economic development strategy with a focus on "taking care of, nurturing and supporting" businesses already existing in the community.
BR+E uses an in-depth, four stage process to assist communities in developing and implementing concrete action plans.
 
In Dryden's case they will have 40 volunteers trained to go out and visit all 500 businesses that have been contacted who say they would like a visit.
 
The volunteer will then spend between 1 and 2 hours collecting answers to a survey.
 
Long-Term Objectives of the BR+E
 
⦁ Increase the competitiveness of local businesses.
⦁ Job creation and new business development.
⦁ Establish and implement strategic actions for local economic development.
⦁ Stronger viable local economy
 
If you do not get a letter and want to be surveyed, please contact Gwen at the Camber of Commerce. Visiting will be done between June-Sept, 2014 and  the results of analysis should be ready by January 2015