Developing the location – strengthening the economy
Strategies, consulting and coaching on business development, location development and location transformation
The challenge
Is your business development effective?
Economic development is the operational driver of location development – and has been confronted with a rapidly growing area of responsibility for years. Because For talents and companies that want to come and stay, the “all-round feel-good package” of hard and soft location factors has long been important.
This means for economic development: Mobility and demographics, housing and education, digitalization and resilience of a city are just as decisive for the effectiveness of measures (= attractiveness of the location) as fast procedures, available space and funding.
How can these many individual topics and measures be turned into a successful business development program with the power to act and strong partners? Together with you, we will find strategic answers and new perspectives .
“Business development works when the strategy, structure and processes are right. This is exactly where I start in my consulting – with insider knowledge and a focus on implementation.”
Frank Balkenhol, expert for business promotion and location development at Stadtmanufaktur
Our approach
From vision to impact
Location development without economic development? Impossible. Impact for locations only arises when strategy and operational business development interlock. Economic development as an institution and “implementer” understands the “location” as a whole, coordinates, networks – and at the same time develops its own impulses for location development and location transformation.
What does it take? A clear strategic (economic) mission statement as well as structures, processes and tools that meet the diverse challenges. This also includes strong leadership, networking, digitalization and AI as well as mature crisis management.
This is the only way to turn complexity into a controllable system: priorities are clear, interfaces are effective, processes are accelerated – and impact becomes measurable. We advise and accompany you step by step.
Frank Balkenhol – Expert for business promotion and location development
Frank Balkenhol completes our holistic approach from urban development to place branding. He advises and supports you with a focus on:
- effectiveness as an economic development measure,
- attractiveness and future strength as a location,
- the use of digitalization and AI potential.
Frank Balkenhol was Managing Director of the Solingen Economic Development Agency for 20 years. He knows the levers and hurdles from AI to crisis management from practical experience.
Frank Balkenhol, strategic consultant
Our way of working
Economic development with strategy
We combine strategy, organization and implementation into a lean, measurable system for your location development:
- Strategy: economic mission statement, impact chains, priorities, key figures, location transformation
- People and practice: service promise, interfaces, roles, decision-making aids, coaching for management and team
- Processes and tools: process map, CRM/pipeline, space and funding management, dashboarding
- Digitalization and AI as leverage: maturity check, database, responsible use of AI
- Crisis management: fast, confidential help in difficult cases
Our promise: We understand your challenges, we analyze with expertise and empathy, we provide practical and solution-oriented advice.
The Stadtmanufaktur competencies:
Our offer to you
Wifö-Fit
How fit is your business development department?
Where do you stand in comparison with others? Where is there a need for action? The comprehensive “fitness check” on strategy, organization, personnel development and communication in business development.
Wifö-Digital
Digital solutions for focus and efficiency
What can be digitized should be digitized. But where do you start? How do you go about it? – Advice and recommendations on digital customer relationship management (CRM), digital services and more.
Wifö-KI
Making sensible use of artificial intelligence
Ahead of the competition: build up AI expertise in-house – and also advise your customers (especially companies) on the use of AI. We also support you in the introduction of 24/7 bots for your customer service.
Wifö-Cash
Gaining financial strength and the power to act
A well-managed financial situation is the prerequisite for confident, effective business development. Keep the rudder in your hands – together with you, we develop strategies for greater financial strength and power to act.
Wifö crisis
Quick help when there’s a fire
An important company moves away? A development plan fails? Your location slips down the city rankings? There are many crises. We support you quickly and confidentially. Frank Balkenhol’s crisis hotline: +49 160 8975349
Wifö-Coach
Coaching for managers and teams
Do you see opportunities and need a second opinion? Do you see problems and want to prepare for them in the best possible way? Talk to me about your challenges – as a manager or in a team.
Our success stories:
Strategies with a future
The Kastanienquartier is being created in Wiesbaden-Kastel - a sustainable, car-free urban quarter with affordable living space and a sense of community. We are supporting the neighborhood development with strategy, concepts and implementation power.
On behalf of the Munich Tourism Initiative (TIM), we develop recommendations for action for modern, holistic destination management. Impulses and inspiration included.
We accompany the strategic realignment of the Linz City Ring - towards becoming a shaping force in city center development in Linz. The result: a clear roadmap, more self-confidence and new alliances.