Global Cities Assessment Survey

Global Cities Initiative - Incremental Growth Strategy - Exporting (a short survey)

The Milwaukee seven county region (M7) grew at a healthy 2.7% annually 2009-2012. Interestingly, growth in exports from the M7 region accounted for nearly 80% of that healthy growth. For us, foreign markets are key. That's good news because we've barely tapped that opportunity. With 95% of the world’s markets located outside the U.S., exporting goods and services represents the greatest opportunity for growth and long term prosperity.

Recently, the Brookings Institute selected the Milwaukee seven county region, as one of eight regions to join the Global Cities Initiative to help us leverage this vast global opportunity.

With a focus on the bottom line, our first goal is to double exports over the next five years. To give the initiative a powerful boost, we are pooling industry, state, county, city, and federal resources to give us the best opportunity to meet and beat that goal. Today on average, companies in the region get almost 20% of their revenues from exporting and its growing. Imagine getting an additional 20% in revenues into our region.

A LOOK FORWARD

Please imagine you've participated in this initiative. It's been great for you. It is now three years in the future, and you've already added an incremental 20% of revenues from exports. Think about how that might impact your company in the following ways: (Even if you do not currently export imagine how your business would benefit from a 20% boost in the economy.)

(Everything you input is confidential and will not be shared except anonymously and in aggregate.

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* 1. More foreign markets usually mean a better distribution of market risk and steadier revenues. (In our imaginary three years which of these did you experience?)

Predictability allows me to plan better.

Steadier cash allows me to better manage the workforce and supply chain.

Like most companies, overseas markets allow us to extend the lifecycle of our products / services with better margins

This sort of incremental growth allowed me to offer better wages to attract the best talent.

Reduced market risk made capital management easier and cheaper.

As strong growth with better operating margins always does, my EBIDTA is bigger and so is the multiple.

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* 2. When we add 20% additional revenues from exports this is what it does to my bottom line.

What's the % increase on the bottom line:

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* 1. More foreign markets usually mean a better distribution of market risk and steadier revenues. (In our imaginary three years which of these did you experience?)

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* 2. When we add 20% additional revenues from exports this is what it does to my bottom line.

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* 3. With an increase in 20% in company revenues, how many more workers did your company employ?