Businesses and manufacturers are leaving Auburn and Cayuga County. They are taking quality jobs and residents with them.
According to a local official, one way to help fix the local economy is to hire a firm to market the city and the county to new businesses. Charles Mace, chairman for the Auburn Industrial Development Agency, would like to see this happen.
Local officials say there are many facets to economic development, and hiring a firm may or may not be one of the answers. But anything is possible, including cooperative marketing, which is already taking place between the two entities, according to officials.
Mace said Monday that elected representatives discussed a couple years ago the idea of hiring someone to find ways of bringing new industry and business to the area. But we won't get any business just sitting around, he said.
“I would just like to see them investigate it instead of just saying we can't afford it,” Mace said. “Marketing comes before sales. Let's see how much it would cost us before saying no.”
Mace said he would like to see city of Auburn and Cayuga County undertake an active campaign where they would market in trade magazines and brochures used by high-tech and medical industries, as well as businesses involved with alternative energy.
In the 1970s, municipalities and states from the South ran such campaigns which were successful, Mace said.
“The companies that moved down south didn't just throw a dart at the map and decide to move,” he said. “They were marketed, and they inquired about what those communities had to offer.”
City Manager Mark Palesh said that “anything” is possible when it comes to marketing possibilities, including hiring a firm. But the city and county are already marketing together to business and tourism outlets through publications, he said.
The process is not cheap, Palesh added.
“A small add ... is thousands of dollars,” Palesh said. “We try to make sure as many entities get on board as possible to get the most bang for our buck.”
Word of mouth can also be an effective way of drawing business to the area, County Manager Wayne Allen said Monday. In fact, Allen has found it to be the one of the most successful marketing strategies.
The county has to make a name for itself associated with positive images for a business, Allen said. Focus on regional industries looking to expand, and make a name through them, he said.
That means “talking to existing businesses and finding out what their needs and problems are,” Allen said.
But when it comes to bringing in large corporations, communities are usually marketed by the state, he continued. If the city or county wants to bring in big business, it needs shovel-ready sites with the infrastructure in place, Allen said.
Unfortunately, New York does not have a good track record of business-friendly policies, he added.
“Businesses will not wait for governments to act. You need to be ready,” Allen said. “They make decisions and move forward. Governments take a little time.”
But Mace said Auburn and Cayuga County are educating smart, talented people who have to leave the area for successful careers. Things need to be done soon to slow the exodus, he said.
While word of mouth might work with a pizza business, the city and county need to reach out to big companies, Mace said.
“Nothing in the world is sold unless it is marketed,” Mace said. “If you're waiting for word of mouth, it is going to be a long time coming.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
Local officials say there are many facets to economic development, and hiring a firm may or may not be one of the answers. But anything is possible, including cooperative marketing, which is already taking place between the two entities, according to officials.
Mace said Monday that elected representatives discussed a couple years ago the idea of hiring someone to find ways of bringing new industry and business to the area. But we won't get any business just sitting around, he said.
“I would just like to see them investigate it instead of just saying we can't afford it,” Mace said. “Marketing comes before sales. Let's see how much it would cost us before saying no.”
Mace said he would like to see city of Auburn and Cayuga County undertake an active campaign where they would market in trade magazines and brochures used by high-tech and medical industries, as well as businesses involved with alternative energy.
In the 1970s, municipalities and states from the South ran such campaigns which were successful, Mace said.
“The companies that moved down south didn't just throw a dart at the map and decide to move,” he said. “They were marketed, and they inquired about what those communities had to offer.”
City Manager Mark Palesh said that “anything” is possible when it comes to marketing possibilities, including hiring a firm. But the city and county are already marketing together to business and tourism outlets through publications, he said.
The process is not cheap, Palesh added.
“A small add ... is thousands of dollars,” Palesh said. “We try to make sure as many entities get on board as possible to get the most bang for our buck.”
Word of mouth can also be an effective way of drawing business to the area, County Manager Wayne Allen said Monday. In fact, Allen has found it to be the one of the most successful marketing strategies.
The county has to make a name for itself associated with positive images for a business, Allen said. Focus on regional industries looking to expand, and make a name through them, he said.
That means “talking to existing businesses and finding out what their needs and problems are,” Allen said.
But when it comes to bringing in large corporations, communities are usually marketed by the state, he continued. If the city or county wants to bring in big business, it needs shovel-ready sites with the infrastructure in place, Allen said.
Unfortunately, New York does not have a good track record of business-friendly policies, he added.
“Businesses will not wait for governments to act. You need to be ready,” Allen said. “They make decisions and move forward. Governments take a little time.”
But Mace said Auburn and Cayuga County are educating smart, talented people who have to leave the area for successful careers. Things need to be done soon to slow the exodus, he said.
While word of mouth might work with a pizza business, the city and county need to reach out to big companies, Mace said.
“Nothing in the world is sold unless it is marketed,” Mace said. “If you're waiting for word of mouth, it is going to be a long time coming.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net
