Economic Development Survey

Independence 2030: A Comprehensive Plan is a 20-year plan intended to guide the future development of Independence in a direction desired by the community. The Plan will focus on future land use, transportation, parks and open spaces, historic preservation, and economic development. It will be completed over a span of two years focusing on small segments of the plan at a time.

The City of Independence is currently working on the economic development and housing portions of the comprehensive plan. Economic development is vital to improve the quality and well-being of the City. A healthy economic environment will result in growth, stability, and attraction and retention of businesses resulting in private capital investments, increased employment opportunities, and an increase and diversification of the local tax base.

One of the key aspects of developing a Comprehensive Plan is the public participation process. Your input will help city officials and planners gain an understanding of the wants, needs, and desires of the citizens of Independence. The choices we make today will have a bearing on the future development of housing, retail, office, and industrial space. Please help us to create a better Independence by taking the Economic Development survey below.

1. What should the City's economic priorities be? Please rank your top four choices from 1 (most preferred) to 4 (fourth most preferred).

	Most Preferred	Second Most Preferred	Third Most Preferred	Fourth Most Preferred
Attraction of new employment opportunities at all wage/salary levels	*What should the City's economic priorities be? Please rank your top four choices from 1 (most preferred) to 4 (fourth most preferred). Attraction of new employment opportunities at all wage/salary levels Most Preferred	Attraction of new employment opportunities at all wage/salary levels Second Most Preferred	Attraction of new employment opportunities at all wage/salary levels Third Most Preferred	Attraction of new employment opportunities at all wage/salary levels Fourth Most Preferred
Assist in the retention and expansion of core industries	Assist in the retention and expansion of core industries Most Preferred	Assist in the retention and expansion of core industries Second Most Preferred	Assist in the retention and expansion of core industries Third Most Preferred	Assist in the retention and expansion of core industries Fourth Most Preferred
Revitalization of the Independence Square	Revitalization of the Independence Square Most Preferred	Revitalization of the Independence Square Second Most Preferred	Revitalization of the Independence Square Third Most Preferred	Revitalization of the Independence Square Fourth Most Preferred
Redevelopment of existing commercial districts	Redevelopment of existing commercial districts Most Preferred	Redevelopment of existing commercial districts Second Most Preferred	Redevelopment of existing commercial districts Third Most Preferred	Redevelopment of existing commercial districts Fourth Most Preferred
Redevelopment of abandoned or under-utilized office and industrial sites	Redevelopment of abandoned or under-utilized office and industrial sites Most Preferred	Redevelopment of abandoned or under-utilized office and industrial sites Second Most Preferred	Redevelopment of abandoned or under-utilized office and industrial sites Third Most Preferred	Redevelopment of abandoned or under-utilized office and industrial sites Fourth Most Preferred
Workforce training programs that prepare residents for better paying jobs	Workforce training programs that prepare residents for better paying jobs Most Preferred	Workforce training programs that prepare residents for better paying jobs Second Most Preferred	Workforce training programs that prepare residents for better paying jobs Third Most Preferred	Workforce training programs that prepare residents for better paying jobs Fourth Most Preferred
Development of incentives to attract businesses	Development of incentives to attract businesses Most Preferred	Development of incentives to attract businesses Second Most Preferred	Development of incentives to attract businesses Third Most Preferred	Development of incentives to attract businesses Fourth Most Preferred
Development of new tourist attractions	Development of new tourist attractions Most Preferred	Development of new tourist attractions Second Most Preferred	Development of new tourist attractions Third Most Preferred	Development of new tourist attractions Fourth Most Preferred

2. What types of business or industry would you like to see more of in Independence? Please rank your top four choices from 1 (most preferred) to 4 (fourth most preferred).

	Most Preferred	Second Most Preferred	Third Most Preferred	Fourth Most Preferred
Manufacturing	*What types of business or industry would you like to see more of in Independence? Please rank your top four choices from 1 (most preferred) to 4 (fourth most preferred). Manufacturing Most Preferred	Manufacturing Second Most Preferred	Manufacturing Third Most Preferred	Manufacturing Fourth Most Preferred
High Tech/Data Centers	High Tech/Data Centers Most Preferred	High Tech/Data Centers Second Most Preferred	High Tech/Data Centers Third Most Preferred	High Tech/Data Centers Fourth Most Preferred
Transportaion/Distribution Centers	Transportaion/Distribution Centers Most Preferred	Transportaion/Distribution Centers Second Most Preferred	Transportaion/Distribution Centers Third Most Preferred	Transportaion/Distribution Centers Fourth Most Preferred
Tourism	Tourism Most Preferred	Tourism Second Most Preferred	Tourism Third Most Preferred	Tourism Fourth Most Preferred
Renewable Energy	Renewable Energy Most Preferred	Renewable Energy Second Most Preferred	Renewable Energy Third Most Preferred	Renewable Energy Fourth Most Preferred
Life Sciences	Life Sciences Most Preferred	Life Sciences Second Most Preferred	Life Sciences Third Most Preferred	Life Sciences Fourth Most Preferred
Retail	Retail Most Preferred	Retail Second Most Preferred	Retail Third Most Preferred	Retail Fourth Most Preferred
Health/Medical	Health/Medical Most Preferred	Health/Medical Second Most Preferred	Health/Medical Third Most Preferred	Health/Medical Fourth Most Preferred
Commercial Services	Commercial Services Most Preferred	Commercial Services Second Most Preferred	Commercial Services Third Most Preferred	Commercial Services Fourth Most Preferred
Regional/Division Office Headquarters	Regional/Division Office Headquarters Most Preferred	Regional/Division Office Headquarters Second Most Preferred	Regional/Division Office Headquarters Third Most Preferred	Regional/Division Office Headquarters Fourth Most Preferred
Agri-business	Agri-business Most Preferred	Agri-business Second Most Preferred	Agri-business Third Most Preferred	Agri-business Fourth Most Preferred
Entrepreneurial/Small Business	Entrepreneurial/Small Business Most Preferred	Entrepreneurial/Small Business Second Most Preferred	Entrepreneurial/Small Business Third Most Preferred	Entrepreneurial/Small Business Fourth Most Preferred

3. Looking ahead, how should the City of Independence best utilize its remaining undeveloped land in order to encourage economic development in the City? (CHECK ONE)

Looking ahead, how should the City of Independence best utilize its remaining undeveloped land in order to encourage economic development in the City? (CHECK ONE) New Industrial Park Developments

New Business/Office Park Developments

Executive-style residential

New Mixed-use developments (combination of residential, retail and office)

None; Focus only on redevelopment

New Retail Development

Affordable Single-Family homes

4. Identify the most important roles the City should play in business and economic development? Please rank your top three choices from 1 (most preferred) to 3 (third most preferred).

	Most Preferred	Second Most Preferred	Third Most Preferred
Aggressively market commercial and industrial locations	*Identify the most important roles the City should play in business and economic development? Please rank your top three choices from 1 (most preferred) to 3 (third most preferred). Aggressively market commercial and industrial locations Most Preferred	Aggressively market commercial and industrial locations Second Most Preferred	Aggressively market commercial and industrial locations Third Most Preferred
Assist with new business start-up	Assist with new business start-up Most Preferred	Assist with new business start-up Second Most Preferred	Assist with new business start-up Third Most Preferred
Build relationships between businesses and government	Build relationships between businesses and government Most Preferred	Build relationships between businesses and government Second Most Preferred	Build relationships between businesses and government Third Most Preferred
Develop favorable land use regulations for business development	Develop favorable land use regulations for business development Most Preferred	Develop favorable land use regulations for business development Second Most Preferred	Develop favorable land use regulations for business development Third Most Preferred
Encourage new business park development	Encourage new business park development Most Preferred	Encourage new business park development Second Most Preferred	Encourage new business park development Third Most Preferred
Provide incentives to attract and retain businesses	Provide incentives to attract and retain businesses Most Preferred	Provide incentives to attract and retain businesses Second Most Preferred	Provide incentives to attract and retain businesses Third Most Preferred
Pursue redevelopment opportunities on available sites	Pursue redevelopment opportunities on available sites Most Preferred	Pursue redevelopment opportunities on available sites Second Most Preferred	Pursue redevelopment opportunities on available sites Third Most Preferred
Extension of infrastructure including city-owned utilities to undeveloped areas at taxpayer expense	Extension of infrastructure including city-owned utilities to undeveloped areas at taxpayer expense Most Preferred	Extension of infrastructure including city-owned utilities to undeveloped areas at taxpayer expense Second Most Preferred	Extension of infrastructure including city-owned utilities to undeveloped areas at taxpayer expense Third Most Preferred

5. If you are employed, where do you work? (CHECK ONE)

If you are employed, where do you work? (CHECK ONE) Independence

Jackson County (outside of downtown Kansas City)

Downtown Kansas City

Kansas Suburbs (Johnson or Wyandotte Counties)

Elsewhere

Retired or Not Currently Employed

6. How long have you lived in Independence?

How long have you lived in Independence? I do not live in Independence

Less than one year

1-5 Years

5-10 Years

More than 10 Years

7. If you live in Independence, where do you live? Please use the map below to determine where you live.

If you live in Independence, where do you live? Please use the map below to determine where you live. Northwest

Southwest

Northeast

Southeast

8. Please use the space below to share any comments or concerns.

Please use the space below to share any comments or concerns.

9. Thank you for completing the economic development survey. Your participation in the Comprehensive planning process is vital in developing a future Independence for all to enjoy. If you would like to recieve an email informing you on future surveys please enter your email address below. You will ONLY be contacted with information on future surveys developed by the City of Independence.

Thank you for completing the economic development survey. Your participation in the Comprehensive planning process is vital in developing a future Independence for all to enjoy. If you would like to recieve an email informing you on future surveys please enter your email address below. You will ONLY be contacted with information on future surveys developed by the City of Independence.