WATERFORD — Three clicks of a computer mouse is all it takes for businesses and citizens to discover the wealth of services offered by the Department of Economic Development & Community Affairs in its new AdvantageOakland.com website.
The site, which is now live, makes it much easier for users to find what they’re looking for whether it’s starting a new business, expanding or relocating a business, checking on available financing options and incentives, Main Street Oakland County or learning about any of the county’s 61 cities, villages and townships.
“You won’t find a more informative or user-friendly economic development site than AdvantageOakland.com,” Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said. “Three clicks will take you virtually anywhere you want to go without having to wade through layers of content.”
AdvantageOakland.com was created after nine months of researching top economic development websites along with interviewing focus groups about content, likes and dislikes and ease of navigation. The result now allows users to search by the service offered rather than the department. Easy-to-understand icons help navigation run smoothly. A research portal allows for quick searches of department data.
The former economic development website, GlobalOakland.com, will redirect users to the new site.
Featured links include: available properties in the county, historic preservation, international business and news and events. A business profile is featured on the home page as well as a video that touts the international business presence in Oakland County. It also links to the county’s OakGov.com general information site.
“The team worked very hard creating an exciting and attractive site that has important and useful information,” said Irene Spanos, the county’s director of economic development. “AdvantageOakland.com sets the standard for economic development websites in Michigan and the country. We’re very proud of it.”
