Business Retention and Expansion International offers both in-person and web-based trainings throughout the year in order to educate and train its members in best practices and skills for BRE.
The continuing education workshops hosted by BREI are written and published by certified BRE trainers (unless expressed otherwise) and are designed specifically for our members’ needs. Additional non-certification webinars are offered throughout the year to help share ideas and practices from fellow members, sponsors, and experts.
Fundamentals Course – Continuous Model
The BREI Fundamentals Course is designed to provide the participant with the knowledge and skills necessary to develop and implement a Business Retention and Expansion Visitation program as part of a viable and effective economic development program. A BR&E Visitation Program is an economic development strategy that is recognized and utilized across the world.
The BREI Fundamentals Course covers essential information needed to develop and implement a BR&E visitation program through an intensive, four session educational event. BR&E practitioners and academics worldwide have developed course materials by identifying the basic elements required to implement and maintain a successful BR&E program. A variety of visitation program types will be covered, and each type will be discussed with regard to its impact on community capacity building.
This course is built on components of different model strategies which are designed to identify common and specific issues that a community’s businesses will face. Economic Developers will use this model to derive the ways to support, retain, and expand local businesses according to their needs. Click to learn more about the Fundamentals Course course description and objectives.
After the BRE Fundamentals course, you will know:
- Whether your community is ready to implement a BRE program
- Understand the current environment in which your community’s businesses operate
- How to develop an approach that best suits your community
- Techniques for effective program evaluation
- Next steps
The BR&E Fundamentals Course accomplishes its goals through the use of lectures, group discussions, group exercises and interactions with established BR&E practitioners. Upon successful completion of the course, attendees receive the BR&E Coordinator certification. This certification is a requisite to receiving BREI credit for continuing training in other BRE programs.
Dates of Fundamentals Course:
- Tuesday, October 20, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM Central
- Thursday, October 22, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM Central
- Tuesday, October 27, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM Central
- Thursday, October 29, 2026, 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM Central
Registration
2027 Business Retention and Expansion International Conference
Business Retention & Expansion International (BREI) invites economic development professionals, community leaders, business support organizations, consultants, and industry partners from across the United States and Canada to join us for the 2027 BREI Annual Conference, June 21–25 in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Set against one of the world’s most recognized destinations, the 2027 conference will take BR&E education beyond the meeting room. Participants will experience five days of professional development, peer-to-peer learning, networking, technical tours, and firsthand examples of how communities are using business retention and expansion strategies to strengthen local economies.
Five Days of Learning, Connections and Experiences
The conference begins June 21–22 with BREI’s Fundamentals of Business Retention & Expansion course, providing participants with practical instruction in developing and implementing successful BR&E programs. Topics will include program planning and evaluation, community profiles, social capital, local leadership teams, survey design, business visitation, red flag review, data analysis, action planning, community engagement, and program evaluation.
The main BREI Annual Conference begins June 23 and will feature an ambitious program examining some of the most important issues facing economic development professionals today.
Conference topics will include:
- The Future of Business Retention & Expansion and the evolving role of BR&E in building resilient communities
- Leadership and Community Transformation and strategies for guiding communities through economic change
- Investment Attraction and Economic Competitiveness
- Rural Economic Development and strategies for helping smaller communities compete for investment
- Business Retention, Expansion and Entrepreneurship
- Retail and Downtown Revitalization, including strategies for creating thriving commercial districts
- Tourism, Placemaking and Destination Development
- Workforce Development and Talent Retention
- Agriculture, Food Systems and Rural Prosperity
- Artificial Intelligence, Data and Market Intelligence for economic development
- Digital Infrastructure and Future-Ready Communities
- Great Lakes Economic Development and Cruise Tourism
- Practical technology demonstrations during the BR&E Tech Blitz, showcasing emerging AI and business intelligence tools for economic developers
See Economic Development in Action
Niagara will become our classroom.
In addition to traditional conference sessions, BREI 2027 will feature technical tours and experiential learning opportunities throughout the Niagara Region.
Participants will explore the economic development strategies behind one of the world’s premier tourism destinations while visiting communities, businesses, infrastructure projects, commercial districts, tourism assets, and development projects throughout Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Planned experiences include tours highlighting Niagara Parks and regional attractions, infrastructure and power generation, downtown and business improvement districts, tourism and hospitality development, arts and culture, agriculture, wineries, farm-to-table experiences, and the distinctive economic identities of Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake.
These experiences will give participants the opportunity to see how tourism, infrastructure, entrepreneurship, retail, placemaking, agriculture, business development, and public-private partnerships work together to drive a regional economy.
Connect with Economic Developers from Across North America
At its heart, BREI is a network of professionals committed to strengthening existing businesses and the communities they call home.
The 2027 Annual Conference will bring together economic developers and industry leaders from throughout the United States and Canada for meaningful conversations, new partnerships, and the exchange of ideas that can be taken home and put into practice.
From the opening reception overlooking Niagara Falls to technical tours, interactive panels, networking meals, and evening experiences throughout the Niagara Region, the conference has been designed to create connections as much as education.
Agenda
Click here to view the draft agenda
Registration
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On-Demand Sessions
From Data to Deals: Mastering CRM for Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) Professionals
This session, taught by Alia Abbas, equips BR&E professionals with the tools, frameworks, and strategies to transform Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems into powerful engines for business intelligence, retention, and expansion. Participants will learn how to capture, structure, analyze, and activate business data to support proactive outreach, identify risks, uncover expansion opportunities, and align stakeholders across their ecosystem. Grounded in real-world economic development applications, this course bridges the gap between technology, strategy, and relationship management, enabling practitioners to move from reactive service delivery to predictive and strategic economic development leadership.
Survey Design and Analysis
This session will review the tips and strategies behind designing surveys for community businesses, analyzing the results of those surveys, and carrying these results into practical follow-up and community improvement.
This session is 1.0 hour of continuing education.
Strengthening Roots – Enhancing Business Longevity and Workforce Growth Through BRE
This interactive session is designed for business leaders, policymakers, and economic development professionals focused on harnessing the power of Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) to foster economic resilience. Attendees will explore cutting-edge strategies for sustaining business growth and developing a robust workforce. Through case studies, group discussions, and expert panels, this session will offer insights into creating synergies between business health and workforce development, ensuring a thriving local economy.
This session is 1.0 hour of continuing education.
Revitalize to Thrive: Fostering Sustainable Business Improvement Districts and Downtown Revival
Aimed at BR&E professionals, urban planners, and community leaders, this workshop delves into the art and science of revitalizing Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and downtown cores. Participants will learn about successful revitalization strategies, from stakeholder engagement and community partnership building to innovative economic and environmental sustainability practices. The session promises to be a blend of theory and practice, providing participants with the tools and inspiration needed to transform their downtown areas into vibrant economic and cultural centers.
This session is 1.0 hour of continuing education.
Strategic Triumph: Mastering BRE through Disaster and Supply Chain Resilience
Elevate your Business Retention and Expansion strategies in the face of uncertainty.
Our exclusive webinar unveils the keys to unparalleled success as Business Retention and Expansion experts. Dive into cutting-edge approaches that encompass the five stages of disaster management: prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Leading to informed decision-making in economic recovery. Delve into the world of disaster management, supply chain resiliency, and learn how to seamlessly integrate preparedness and mitigation into your decision-making processes. Explore strategies for creating shared strategic value across community lifelines by integrating supply chain and site selection best practices.
This session goes beyond expert knowledge, offering tangible key takeaways – actionable insights, and proven strategies for your business’s resilience. Elevate your strategy and secure your success in the BRE arena. Don’t miss out – register now and embark on your roadmap to resilience!
This session is 3.0 hours of continuing education.
2024 Business Retention & Expansion International Conference
You are invited to join fellow BRE professionals for the On-Demand option of the 2024 Business Retention and Expansion Annual Conference, originally recorded on June 11-13, 2024.. The 2024 conference features international speakers on subject matter identified by our membership as major issues and opportunities in business retention and expansion.
Conference Booklet
Registration
Leveraging AI for Economic Development
Presenter: Dean Whittaker
AI expert Dean Whittaker will provide an overview of leading AI systems like Claude, and ChatGPT. He will explain how economic developers can utilize these tools for activities like business attraction and retention, talent development, and strategic planning.
Key Takeaways:
- The basics of Artificial Intelligence & key AI systems on the market.
- Ways to incorporate AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT into your economic development efforts.
- Strategies for using AI to enhance prospect outreach and support existing businesses.
- How AI can help inform your short and long-term planning.
- Ethical considerations when leveraging AI in the public sector.
BRE Program Evaluation
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2022 Business Retention & Expansion International Conference
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Communications Planning for BRE
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2021 Business Retention & Expansion International Conference
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Collaboration: Work Smarter, Not Harder
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Customer Service is Critical
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Data That Helps Keep Businesses Moving
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Business Pulse Check: The Entrepreneur Recovery Journey
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Business Opportunities in Disaster: Supply and Demand
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A View Inside a Global Plan
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Enhancing Rural Business Development Ecosystems One Conversation at a Time
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Boots on the Ground Business Retention and Expansion
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