Industrial recruitment involves the attraction of manufacturing industries to a community or region to increase the local economic base. Leaders of many chambers of commerce, towns, and regions are pursuing a limited number of new or relocating industrial plants. For this reason, recruiting programs should be well thought out and this effort should be balanced with other economic development efforts. Since local economic development resources are often limited, recruitment efforts should be targeted on industries for which the community has a comparative advantage.
A community’s comparative advantage may be in one or more areas of production. A community with a large underemployed labor force may have a comparative advantage for labor intensive industry. Other potential comparative advantages may include abundant water supplies, electric power, transportation opportunities, location, natural resources, particular labor skills, educational facilities, etc. It is important for community leaders to be aware of situations giving their area a comparative advantage.
The bases of a recruiting program is a local economic development committee. To gain widespread community support, the committee should be made up of leaders from all facets of the community. The responsibilities of the committee are to:
1.  Examine the advantages and disadvantages of the community as a location for new business and industry.
2.  Identify potential industries and firms that are growing and would profit from locating in an area with location characteristics common to your area.
3.  Prepare information — brochures, slide shows, etc. — that will help to sell the community to a potential industry.
4.  Organize local resources — chambers of commerce, other business or industry groups or clubs, civic organizations, church Ieaders, etc. — into committees to aid in the economic development process.
5.  Conduct the marketing and recruiting efforts.
6.  Contact and coordinate with economic development organizations — department of commerce, sub-state planning and development districts, universities, etc. — to assist the community in its economic development.