From idea to action: How Whitehouse, TX launched a more proactive BR&E program with Bludot

For many economic developers, the challenge is not whether they care about local businesses. It is whether they have a system for engaging them consistently.

When business records, notes, follow-up, and outreach live in different places, even good intentions become hard to sustain. That challenge is even greater when a department is still building its programs and processes from the ground up.

That was the opportunity facing Whitehouse as it established new economic development programs and processes.

Since stepping into the full-time director role, Susan Hargis, Economic Development Director for the City of Whitehouse, has focused on building the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic development program. That has meant creating processes from scratch, strengthening relationships with regional and local partners, and thinking intentionally about what kind of growth best serves Whitehouse over the long term.

A major part of that work was making sure Whitehouse’s existing businesses knew they were valued and seen as an important part of the city’s future. That priority led directly to the launch of their BR&E program, with Bludot serving as an important tool in supporting that effort.

Building a BR&E program foundation from the ground up

Whitehouse’s approach to economic development is not centered only on attracting new growth. It is centered on intentional growth.

Susan described that as thinking carefully about what Whitehouse has to offer and what will be in the best interest of the community not just in the next few years, but over the next 25 to 50 years. At the same time, she and the Board shared a clear priority: making sure existing businesses felt valued, appreciated, and supported.

That led Susan to create a BR&E program after researching best practices and learning from industry peers.

“One priority shared by both the Board and me was ensuring our existing businesses know they are valued, appreciated, and an important part of Whitehouse’s future. To support that goal, I set out to create a Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E) program.” — Susan Hargis, Economic Development Director, City of Whitehouse, TX

For a department building its work from the ground up, that kind of initiative requires more than a good strategy. It requires a system that can support outreach, organize information, and keep engagement moving once the first conversations begin.

Using Bludot to launch the program

Whitehouse officially launched its BR&E program in April 2026, and Susan credits Bludot with helping streamline that process.

The value came down to execution. Bludot made it easier to send and organize emails, sort responses, and manage outreach in a way that supported the successful launch of the program.

Just as important, Whitehouse had access to a responsive support team throughout the process.

“Bludot was extremely helpful in making this possible. The ease of sending and organizing emails, sorting responses, and the excellent customer service team helped streamline the process and support the successful launch of the program." — Susan Hargis, Economic Development Director, City of Whitehouse, TX

That matters because launching a BR&E program is not just about setting a goal. It is about having a practical way to introduce the work to the business community and build a consistent engagement process behind it.

Introducing the EDC through the Business Needs & Growth Survey

One of the most important parts of Whitehouse’s BR&E rollout was the Whitehouse Business Needs & Growth Survey.

Susan saw the survey as more than a way to collect information. It was also a way to introduce the EDC to businesses that had previously had very little interaction with a local economic development organization.

Through the survey, Whitehouse was able to gather feedback, better understand business needs, gauge satisfaction with doing business in the city, and begin opening lines of communication with decision-makers.

That is an important distinction. Good business engagement does not start with a database alone. It starts with a practical way to begin conversations and learn what businesses actually need.

One place for outreach, notes, and follow-up

Susan described Bludot as Whitehouse’s central platform for business outreach and relationship management. The city uses it to maintain business records, send communications, track interactions, document meetings, manage follow-up activities, and support BR&E efforts. Keeping all of that in one place has made engagement more timely and consistent.

That centralization has created clear day-to-day benefits.

Instead of relying on scattered notes or memory, Susan can take notes directly in the file, keep gathered information in one platform, and use reminders to make sure progress continues.

“Bludot has helped me get organized and have all the needed and gathered information in one convenient platform. Being able to take notes directly into the file is an excellent timesaver and setting reminders for follow ups keeps progress moving.” — Susan Hargis, Economic Development Director, City of Whitehouse, TX

For economic development teams, that kind of organization is not a small improvement. It directly affects responsiveness, continuity, and the ability to build trust with businesses over time.

Turning business feedback into better priorities

As Whitehouse gathers more information through its BR&E efforts, that feedback is helping shape departmental priorities.

Susan explained that business input helps identify common challenges, opportunities, and resource needs within the local business community. That makes it easier to prioritize outreach, connect businesses with the right resources, and identify areas where the EDC can advocate for improvements or added support.

Centralized data is also changing how Whitehouse plans outreach and makes decisions.

“Absolutely. Having centralized data allows us to track conversations, identify trends, and maintain continuity in our interactions with businesses. Rather than relying on scattered notes or individual conversations, we can make more informed decisions and ensure follow-up efforts are timely and consistent.” — Susan Hargis, Economic Development Director, City of Whitehouse, TX

That is one of the strongest takeaways from this story. The value of Bludot is not simply that it stores information. It gives Whitehouse a way to turn outreach and feedback into something usable — something that can guide decisions, support follow-up, and create more consistency across the department’s work.

From an idea to a real program

When asked what stands out most so far, Susan pointed to seeing the BR&E program move from an idea to a reality.

That shift matters. Whitehouse was not refining an existing engagement program. It was building one. Through the BR&E program and the Business Needs & Growth Survey, the city has been able to start meaningful conversations, gather useful feedback, and begin building the relationships that long-term economic development depends on.

“One moment that stands out is seeing our Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E) program move from an idea to a reality. Coming into a role where I was building programs and processes from the ground up, it was incredibly rewarding to launch an initiative that opened new lines of communication with our business community.” — Susan Hargis, Economic Development Director, City of Whitehouse, TX

That is the kind of win that matters early. Not a flashy metric, but a real operating foundation for more proactive business engagement.

Looking ahead

Over the next year, Whitehouse plans to keep strengthening relationships with its business community, expand BR&E efforts, and continue making sure local businesses are aware of the resources and opportunities available to help them succeed. Susan’s goal is to provide proactive leadership and meaningful support that contributes to the long-term success of Whitehouse businesses.

Her advice to other economic development departments is also telling: review your processes, keep them current, ask others for insight, and build relationships with neighboring EDCs. In her view, collaboration is not just a buzzword. It is essential to stronger local, regional, and state economies.

A more connected way to support local businesses

Whitehouse’s experience with Bludot is a strong example of what practical economic development support looks like.

The city did not need a generic platform or just another place to store contacts. It needed a system that could help launch a BR&E program, organize outreach, capture business feedback, and create the consistency needed to build stronger relationships with local businesses.

For Whitehouse, Bludot has helped make that possible.

If your team is working to create a more proactive, organized approach to business engagement, Whitehouse shows what that can look like in practice. Schedule some time with the Bludot team to see what this would look like for your organization.