Business Retention

All of the services we offer, from personnel to information exchange, have the ultimate goal of business retention. But more immediately, the overall stability and efficiency of your operation may be vulnerable due to lack of information, or specific job skills, or just too many things to do and not enough of you to do them.

If you find yourself concerned about operating in the red, we may be able to help. Consider these examples, and contact your nearest Business Resource Center today for more information and assistance!

Maximize Operational Efficiency

A local branch of a manufacturing company was in danger of being shut down by the parent company unless they could get back to operating in the black, a problem brought to the fore by the slowing economy and credited to the events of September 11.

Based on the needs of the employer, the local One Stop Business Resource Center initiated a customized training program, brought in an efficiency expert identified by the employer to provide on-site classroom training, and helped through short-term, hands-on On-the-Job Training, to implement and verify that the skills being taught to the employees and management were mastered. The company is still operating in the black and 20 some people are still employed. This represents a $1million payroll and $3 million in annual sales.

Unbearable Operating Costs

A local manufacturing plant was facing closure because of the high cost of electricity. The local One Stop Business and Employment Center helped arrange a combination of funding to purchase a manageable sized (1.5 MGW) power plant (utilizing a combination of CDBG funds, local city funds, small business loan, company funds and a PG&E rebate program).

The cost savings were substantial. The company is still in business and 125 people are still employed. This represents a $10 million payroll and $25 million in annual sales.

Temporary Slowdown

A local manufacturer of woodworking machinery was experiencing a decline in orders over the winter months. Instead of laying off a substantial portion of their workforce until business picked up in the Spring, they decided to participate in the "work share program," which provides employee UI support to reduced work hours.

The employees were able to maintain an income and their health benefits, and the wage savings from the reduced schedule allowed the company to operate in the black, while maintaining the workforce flexibility needed to respond to market opportunities.