The Institute for Sustainable Development is working with the Industrial Retention Network and those at the Midwest Center for Labor Research to help with their "early warning" system which is intended to dissuade manufacturers from leaving. Part of the tactic is to develop a database of manufacturing companies to track employment, sales and other indicators to help determine when a company might be getting into jeopardy before it's too late. Another tactic is to help companies improve their competitiveness and find additional private investment.

The Institute's involvement in these issues reflects our belief that a strong economic base is crucial to sustainable development. Many of today's small businesses were started much earlier in the century and now have aging owners who do not pass the business on. Part of industrial retention also means helping to determine which small-business owners are planning to liqudate their stores upon retirement and if there are other alternatives such as selling the store to present employees.