PEDC at Your Door: Local Businesses Can Share Their Thoughts With Business Intelligence Meetings

The Palestine Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) works on several programs throughout the year to attract new companies and support existing businesses in Palestine, Texas. While PEDC staff talks to community members daily, a new program will create space to actively listen to business owners. Starting in 2025, PEDC will schedule two Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) meetings with local companies per month.

“We don’t want businesses to treat these meetings like formal interviews,” says Christophe Trahan, Executive Director of PEDC. “They are guided discussions with open-ended questions. The businesses we meet with can guide the conversation if there is something specific they want to talk about.”

Learn about the benefits of BR&E meetings and how you can participate in them as PEDC starts scheduling appointments.

There Are Several Benefits of BR&E Meetings  

PEDC understands that business owners have packed schedules and only asks for an hour of your time for these BR&E meetings. If you are unsure about asking for a meeting, know that there are several benefits of meeting with PEDC. Here are a few reasons BR&E discussions are worth it.  

• Share your pain points with community leaders: Voice your concerns with someone who understands and wants to hear more. PEDC uses these meetings to identify trends that need to be addressed. 
• Discuss opportunities to form local partnerships: PEDC loves connecting local vendors, suppliers, and customers. Use BR&E discussions to identify networking opportunities that can help you. 
• Highlight the good things happening in your organization: These meetings can be celebratory if you have plans for growth or recently expanded into a new market. PEDC can share resources with your business that can help it grow even more. 
• Be the change you want to see in your community: Feel like you have a voice to improve life in Palestine, whether you are concerned about housing, hiring, or even quality of life issues like childcare.

These meetings are also completely optional. If you feel like you cannot meet with PEDC staff at this time, we won’t force the issue. There may be a better month for you in the future with a clearer schedule. 

Business Insights Guide PEDC Policies

PEDC serves the residents and business owners of Palestine, Texas. It collects data throughout the year but also relies on direct feedback through local conversations. The discussions you have during the BR&E meetings could shape PEDC policies in the coming years.

“Our job is to be responsive to the needs of the community,” says Trahan. “When companies tell us about hiring problems, we focus on workforce development. When small businesses need support for updates and repairs, we invest in improvement grants. The retention of local businesses is at the top of our priority list and communication is key in that effort.” 

BR&E Meetings Don’t Need Formal Presentations or Discussions

PEDC has designed the BR&E meetings to be informal discussions so local business owners can choose their most pressing topics. Before the BR&E meeting, we simply ask that you reflect on your business and the community at large. You may decide to write down some notes so you don’t forget what you want us to discuss. However, you don’t need to set aside time for extensive planning to meet with PEDC. Our goal is to make your job easier, not harder.

“Decide what you want to show us or talk about before we arrive,” says Trahan. “Some companies give us a tour of their facilities while others want to cover a series of topics related to their industry. You are in the driver’s seat for what we discuss.”

If you aren’t sure where to start, PEDC can guide the discussion through a series of questions. Any business, regardless of size, industry, or time in Palestine has valuable information to share. 

Ask PEDC to Put You on the BR&E Meeting Schedule

Fill out this form if you’re interested in being one of the first businesses on our BR&E schedule. PEDC can only schedule two BR&E meetings per month at this time, so we might not be able to get to your organization immediately. However, this is a long-term program that allows PEDC to stay connected with the needs of the local business community.

You can also contact PEDC if you have any comments, opportunities, or concerns you would like to share. Our doors and inboxes are always open.