MarketEdge™ Program Launches at 2008 Chamber Expo --- Lancaster Businesses to Benefit from this New Competitive Intelligence Service

Lancaster County businesses are responding to the increasing demands of the competitive marketplace by seeking new tools and resources to help them launch new products, find new customers, and grow their companies successfully. Lancaster MarketEdge™, a new competitive intelligence service launched today by the Library System of Lancaster County, is designed specifically to help companies meet these challenges head-on.

MarketEdge provides businesses with access to three key resources. First, it allows them to utilize a wide array of advanced, proprietary research databases that are available to Fortune 500 companies. Second, it provides them with a training program and certification option so that employees can become truly proficient at using research data and information for competitive advantage. And third, it gives them access to expert consultants who can guide them through the process of researching and solving real-world business problems with state-of-the-art databases to support their decisions.

“MarketEdge gives Lancaster County businesses the equivalent of a graduate-level, MBA-style program focused specifically on competitive intelligence, one of the fastest-growing areas of business and marketing strategy,” says Rhonda Kleiman, Economic Development Manager at the Library System.

This innovative new program is one of the first in the region to be offered by a public library.  The program is designed to help businesses become adept at using competitive intelligence resources effectively. Competitive intelligence research allows companies to “go beyond Google” and use extremely powerful research databases and other resources to answer essential business questions. These tools provide detailed industry profiles; market analyses, company information and economic reports that can help business owners make strategic decisions.

“MarketEdge is a value-added program,” says Susan Hauer, Administrator of the Library System of Lancaster County. “We are providing the entire county with economic development tools that can help businesses succeed, especially in today’s complex and ever-changing economy.”

The Library System partnered with the Lancaster County Chamber of Business & Industry to launch the new service at the 2008 Chamber Expo. The program was introduced with a free preview workshop led by Rhonda Kleiman, Economic Development Manager for the Library System. This will be followed by scheduled sessions throughout the remainder of 2008 and into 2009.

“The Chamber is proud to partner with the Library System to launch MarketEdge,” says Cheryl Irwin, Vice President of the Lancaster County Chamber of Business & Industry. “Chamber members are diverse businesses, but they are all looking to find their edge in the marketplace. MarketEdge gives them the tools and knowledge to make that happen.”

The MarketEdge program is part of the Library System of Lancaster County’s continued effort to develop and provide services that meet the needs of the Lancaster County business community. MarketEdge is the latest in a series of programs and resources that include the Duke Street Business Center located at the Lancaster Public Library in downtown Lancaster and at public libraries throughout the county.

For more information on MarketEdge and other services for economic and business development, contact Rhonda Kleiman, Economic Development Manager for the Library System of Lancaster County, by calling 717-207-0500 ext. 1225 or via email to kleiman@lancasterlibraries.org   In addition, you may learn more online at www.lancastermarketedge.com.

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