Opportunity
To recruit new business, Economic Development Directors must take stock of their assets to determine which companies will best thrive in their region. As Judy Clark, Economic Development Director of The City of Blue Ash evaluated her city, she saw a number of successful Life Sciences firms increasing revenue, adding white-collar jobs and advancing the economy.
Answer
Through understanding the dynamics of the Life Science industry, the idea of a Blue Ash Life Sciences Collaborative was born. With the end-objective of bringing companies in the sought-after Life Sciences sector to Blue Ash, the Collaborative works to serve and strengthen the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies already in the region.
metaphor partnered with The City of Blue Ash to strategically develop the Life Science Collaborative and interviewed Life Sciences companies to understand their key needs and issues. metaphor developed a brand for the Collaborative so that Blue Ash would own all of the activities and events managed by the group.
In November, 2008, the city hosted their first regional event for the Life Sciences industry around the topic, Attracting and Retaining Talent. Our research indicated that there was a gap in communication between the educational, health services and corporate aspects of the sector. In general, it was challenging for colleges and universities to match their programs to the talent needs of Blue Ash businesses. The event included keynote speaker Mary Benedict, Regional Workforce Director of the Ohio Department of Development, and a panel discussion with representatives from Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Paul-Lawrence Associates, University of Cincinnati and BioOhio.
To support and promote the event, metaphor developed a 16-page custom publication that featured five key Life Sciences companies in the Blue Ash region. All of the writing, photography, design and production was managed by metaphor. In addition, metaphor contacted the media to ensure the event was well-attended and covered, created an online registration form and promoted the Blue Ash Life Sciences sector overall on public radio and in The Cincinnati Business Courier.
With a recognized brand and a great deal of momentum, The Blue Ash Life Sciences Collaborative continues to serve the life sciences sector and advance the greater Cincinnati economy.
