Lyle Roggow | Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation

Small Business Success Tips Podcast (episode 8)

Summary:  Lyle Roggow of Oklahoma's Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation offers insights into how regional economic development organizations provide critical support to growing businesses, provide introductions across industries, fuel incubators and assemble key resources to help local entrepreneurs become successful.

Guest Bio: Lyle Roggow is president of the Duncan Area Economic Development Foundation,  member of the State Chamber of Oklahoma, the Oklahoma professional economic development counsel, and leads the Oklahoma Incentive Evaluation Commission.  Lyle is strong advocate of small businesses as key to economic diversity in local communities.  His roots are in agriculture and he spent many years working with farmers and ranchers on business management.  He's worked with business incubators to large manufacturing companies and for the past 12 years, his focus has been the development of workforce programs and a favorable business climate in Duncan, Oklahoma. 

In this episode, Lyle Roggow discusses: 

• how local economic development offices across the country encourage entrepreneurs to be proactive, and reach out directly for support
• how economic development organizations build relationships across industries and help minimize roadblocks to business growth
• how EDC partners are like having extra person in your organization who open doors to opportunity
• incubators as a way to transform start-ups companies, nurture them in a controlled environment, control cost, and offer individual support as problems arise
• Duncan's strategic blend of resources, including incubators, land for expansion, leasable buildings, and dedicated funds to offer financial incentives
• how organizations like Score, the Career and Technology Education System, the Manufacturers Alliance and local chambers of commerce work together

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