Business Visitation Program

Visit 200

Visit 200 is a business visitation program that was originally implemented in 2005 to open a dialogue with county employers and let them know that their presence in the County is appreciated. The primary objectives of the visitation program are to:

• identify the actual needs of businesses that would enable them to expand,
• link companies to essential services and programs that they might not be aware of, and
• to identify problem areas that need to be addressed through changes in public policy.

Through this outreach effort EDC staff has contacted more than 1,445 companies; personally met with more than 436 companies; provided development assistance to approximately 80%, or 347 companies; and provided ongoing assistance to approximately 20%, or 86 companies as of 5/23/2007.

“This is definitely a best practice at this point,” Miles Freidman, president of the Association of State Development Agencies, said about coordinating this type of outreach. “Even though such visitation programs are growing in popularity, a lot of communities give lip service to it, but don’t really do it.” Friedman further states, “Actually initiating this program puts Prince George’s at the forefront. It’s an excellent way of finding out exactly what’s going on with your local companies.” (Excerpted from article published in the Prince George’s Gazette on February 22, 2007)

One of the most important benefits of the visitation program has been its role as a feeder to other programs administered by EDC and its partners. Information gathered through business visits have enabled EDC to identify companies that may participate in programs administered by the Small Business Initiative, the International Business Services and Workforce Services Divisions. Since the programs and partnerships established through this program are based on the needs of the businesses that are visited, the success of the program is limitless and will continue to unfold.