BEAR

The Wasatch Business Expansion and Retention (BEAR) program is designed to identify needs, focus resources, and coordinate efforts to help individual businesses flourish. We have organized all local agencies that provide services to our businesses into a BEAR Committee. We have also contracted with Business Outreach Specialists who are meeting with local businesses to gather information. All data is entered into a secure web based platform (ExecutivePulse) to share information with committee members and to distribute/track referrals addressing specific business needs.

Benefits of the Wasatch County BEAR Project:

  1. Internal business growth. As a result of the active involvement with the business community the Wasatch BEAR Program will help foster a business climate where entrepreneurs are willing to invest their money to create quality jobs.
  2. Focus on key businesses. The Wasatch BEAR Program will provide a mechanism to identify key businesses with the potential to grow and create our jobs of the future. In addition, it will help us retain and grow appropriate businesses in the Wasatch BEAR Program service area.
  3. Improve use of limited public and private resources to support the business community. The business visitation and survey component of the Wasatch BEAR Program will identify individual businesses and systemic areas of the economy where the investment of public resources is the most effective and efficient.
  4. Targeted assistance to individual businesses with high growth opportunities. The Wasatch BEAR Program will produce a network of local and regional business and technical assistance providers interlinked together to ensure critical business needs are addressed.
  5. Targeted assistance to individual key businesses determined to be “at risk”. Businesses identified as “at risk” for closure or relocation out of the area will be specifically targeted for intervention and action.
  6. Statistically significant data detailing the overall business climate. As information is gathered on local businesses we will gain access to reports that will help make policy decisions affecting our local business climate. Generic reports will be shared with local and regional community leaders including elected officials.

Electronic Copy of BEAR Brochure

Business Outreach Specialists (BEAR Interviewers)

- Annelise Slack

- Cheryl Laub

- Jeff Pitts

- Karen Hibl

- Kathy Goodman

- Kimberly Davis

- Sharon Ryan

Each of these individuals will have printed BEAR materials and a business card verifying that they are a member of our team.  If you have questions please call Paul Kennard at 435-671-6690.

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In March 2008 we brought Dr. Kenneth Stone to the Heber Valley to present a seminar on "Thriving in a Mass Merchandise Environment". Read Dr. Stone's Executive Summary for advice on how independent businesses can thrive in a mass market world.