Changes in the business environment due to globalisation, on-going structural changes in the economy and demographical developments represent new challenges to the modern and efficient promotion of municipal economic development. Today it is particularly necessary to complement the classical elements of municipal economic development policies such as help and support for existing businesses, attraction of new companies, or management of industrial estate with additional so-called soft business location factors. A focussed and consistent business location marketing strategy as a component of a comprehensive corporate identity, or the possibility of innovative cluster and network management, are examples which underline this and which due to increasing international competition are indispensable today.

Therefore, in the coming years, the strategy is to support these structural changes, to create new jobs, strengthen economic power and further develop the location in order to be competitive and fit for the future. With this in mind core expertise in the fields of metalworking, precious metalworking, precision engineering, information services and other services, printing technology and mail order business should be further developed with the business location and its advantages positioned and marketed on a local and regional level.
In order to make this possible, the division for the promotion of economic development concentrates on the following areas and is available to you as a competent service and co ordination partner:

• Help and support for existing businesses
• Attraction of new companies to the city 
• Cluster management 
• Management of property and real estate 
• Business start-ups and promotion of technology 
• Marketing for the business location
• Transportation infrastructure 
• Billposting 
• Regional development and marketing 
• Promotion of trade and commerce 
• Project development and management 
• Business monitoring
• Co-operation and representation of the city with authorities and other Insttitutions or organisations

Contact persons:

Reiner Müller, Tel. ++49 (0) 7231-39 1698
Steffen Gruß, Tel. ++49 (0) 7231-39 2903