In 1998, the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) developed the Business Retention and Expansion Program in response to the concern that many Jefferson Parish businesses were experiencing growing pains; they were looking for new and larger facilities, additional employees and new markets. A few had closed due to industry restructurings and consolidations or relocated out of the parish due to space requirements or change in ownership headquartered elsewhere. The JEDCO Board of Commissioners, as well as the parish president and council, felt that the time was right to launch a business retention and expansion effort, the first of its kind for Jefferson, as a primary economic development strategy. The "Early Warning System" began operating in September 1998 when surveys were mailed to all companies with more than 30 employees in Jefferson Parish. JEDCO is reaching out to area companies to determine which are healthy and which need a shot in the arm to remain in the community or simply to remain open.

The benefits of the Business Retention and Expansion Program include:
• Alerts the parish to opportunities and problems that exist, including potential layoff situations and plant closures
• Opens lines of communication between parish officials and local businesses
• Creates awareness in the business community of JEDCO's advocacy role and its services
• Provides parish officials with labor market data and information about Jefferson Parish's economic climate
• Provides first-hand knowledge of trends and changes in certain industries represented in and affecting the parish's economy, as well as alerts leaders to changes in specific commercial/industrial geographic areas within the parish
• Helps JEDCO maintain an up-to-date business directory of local firms
• Uncovers possible leads and prospects for recruitment through interviews with company executives

Some of JEDCO's services and programs include:

• Site Selection Services
• Tax Incentives/Credits/Exemptions/Rebates
• Business Counseling
• Demographics
• Workforce Solutions
• Financing Options