THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, July 28, 1995 TAG: 9507260200
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY NOREEN FARRELL NICKOLAS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
Officials in Chesapeake's Economic Development Department have a new way to reach out and touch someone.
It's a program called ``business retention,'' developed to establish closer contacts with businesses located in the city. The service, which began in May, is designed to address the concerns of business owners.
By visiting and making follow-up calls on Chesapeake's more than 12,000 registered businesses, city officials hope to ward off serious problems that could sink companies.
``We can serve them better if we know who they are and what their needs are,'' said Steven Wright, the city's retention coordinator.
Wright's goal is to visit about five establishments a week. The first time he calls on a business, Wright said, he determines its needs and provides a list of city departments that are available to assist.
The information from his visits is entered into a database, to be evaluated each quarter, Wright said.
``What I find is that most businesses are doing well, and do not have a lot of pressing concerns,'' he said.
One problem he's uncovered already: a traffic snarl in the Greenbrier area.
``The overwhelming concern that we've come up against is the need for a traffic light at Executive Boulevard and Volvo Parkway,'' Wright said.
Nistem Corp. Manager James Hall said that during peak hours, a 10- to 12-minute wait to cross the intersection causes a huge backup of cars outside his office on Principal Court.
``It's just a matter of time before someone gets hurt,'' Hall said.
City Traffic Engineer Brian Whitlock said that he is aware of the growing need for a traffic signal at the intersection but that there is no money to install one in the near future.
Wright said he and some of the business owners will bring the situation to the attention of City Council.
Wright also discovered that companies need qualified employees.
Watson Electrical Construction Co. Inc., which has locations on Executive and Cook boulevards, employs about 220 people. But Division Manager Ronnie Midgett said the company's workload requires more skilled workers.
``What we have been doing is bringing employees here untrained and training them ourselves,'' he said.
Wright hooked Watson Electrical up with Richard Hoehlein, director of continuing education and off-campus services for Tidewater Community College.
The goal of the retention program is to educate the business community on the resources that are available, Wright said.
So far, the city's strategy seems to be working.
Thanks to the program, Watson Electrical's Midgett said, ``We're in contact with all the right people now.'' MEMO: For more information about the Chesapeake Department of Economic
Development's business retention program, call Steven Wright at
523-1100.
by CNB