Strategy
Foster Entrepreneurship
All businesses start off with an idea. An idea, a concept, a theory that needs one – an entrepreneur – to develop it. Entrepreneurs are passionate. They are hard workers. They wear many hats and take risks. Entrepreneurship can come in many forms, be it the professional running a consulting business from their home, the entrepreneur opening a fitness training studio or the youth exploring opportunities to start their own business. On a daily basis, ideas are born in Rochester Hills. Rochester Hills prides itself in being a community that educates and cultivates leaders with ideas and passion. Small busi- nesses create the economic diversity that a community strives for. In 2018, Verizon Business recognized Rochester Hills as being the 8th best place in the U.S. for small businesses. Since 2012, the University of Michigan-Dearborn’s Labs has ranked the City of Rochester Hills as a 5-Star Community (highest possible ranking) for its environment that fosters entrepreneurship. With 1,500 small businesses in Rochester Hills, the ability for City staff to connect with all will be limited. But working with strategic partners like the Rochester Regional Chamber, Oakland County Business Center and MI-SBDC, it is our goal to thank these entrepreneurs for their investment in our City and promote the many programs avail- able to small businesses and assist them with their needs. Strive to develop and support an ecosystem that embraces entrepreneurship The pandemic has been especially difficult for our small businesses as they adjust to public health protocols, layoffs, and restricted travel. Throughout it all, we’ve helped them in numerous ways by providing operational, financial, and marketing support.
1. Track trends and needs of start-up owners and entrepreneurs 2.“Adopt a start-up for a year” Extract of Action Items:*
"I could not be happier and more im- pressed with the organized manner the city was able to completely trans- form our little stretch of Rochester Hills. Now I see our area as a blank canvas, with potential for new devel- opment and I look forward to being a part of the area's growth."
Matt Moore, owner, Johnny Blacks Public House - Auburn Road/Brooklands
*see Action Plan in appendix for details
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