2012 Grant County Business Climate Survey

The 2012 Business Climate Survey

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* 1. What is the nature of your business? Please check all that apply.

Retail:

Manufacturing:

Professional Services:

Wholesale:

Online:

Other (please specify)

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* 2. How many years have you been in business at current location?

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* 3. How many years have you been in business in Grant County?

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* 4. Your Current Location is?

Leased

Owned

Multiple Locations, some of which are leased and some are owned

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* 5. How many employees do you have?

less than 5 employees

6 employees to 24 employees

25 employees to 100 employees

more than 100 employees

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* 6. In general, how would you rate Grant County support of small business owners?

Very supportive

Somewhat supportive

Neutral

Somewhat unsupportive

Very unsupportive

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* 7. Would you discourage or encourage others from starting a business in Grant County?

Highly encourage

Somewhat encourage

Neutral

Somewhat discourage

Highly discourage

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* 8. How difficult or easy do you think it is to start a business in Grant County?

Very easy

Somewhat easy

Neither easy nor difficult

Somewhat difficult

Very difficult

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* 9. In your mind what is the biggest challenge in starting a business in Grant County?

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* 10. During the next five years, the key factors that will impact my firm’s success will be:

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly Agree
Lower State taxes	Lower State taxes Strongly Disagree	Lower State taxes Disagree	Lower State taxes Neutral	Lower State taxes Agree	Lower State taxes Strongly Agree
Being price competitive	Being price competitive Strongly Disagree	Being price competitive Disagree	Being price competitive Neutral	Being price competitive Agree	Being price competitive Strongly Agree
Ability to reach and serve customers via the internet	Ability to reach and serve customers via the internet Strongly Disagree	Ability to reach and serve customers via the internet Disagree	Ability to reach and serve customers via the internet Neutral	Ability to reach and serve customers via the internet Agree	Ability to reach and serve customers via the internet Strongly Agree
Ability to enter new markets	Ability to enter new markets Strongly Disagree	Ability to enter new markets Disagree	Ability to enter new markets Neutral	Ability to enter new markets Agree	Ability to enter new markets Strongly Agree
Ability to bring new products to market	Ability to bring new products to market Strongly Disagree	Ability to bring new products to market Disagree	Ability to bring new products to market Neutral	Ability to bring new products to market Agree	Ability to bring new products to market Strongly Agree
Controlling labor costs	Controlling labor costs Strongly Disagree	Controlling labor costs Disagree	Controlling labor costs Neutral	Controlling labor costs Agree	Controlling labor costs Strongly Agree
Managing energy costs	Managing energy costs Strongly Disagree	Managing energy costs Disagree	Managing energy costs Neutral	Managing energy costs Agree	Managing energy costs Strongly Agree
Fewer local government regulations	Fewer local government regulations Strongly Disagree	Fewer local government regulations Disagree	Fewer local government regulations Neutral	Fewer local government regulations Agree	Fewer local government regulations Strongly Agree
Better transportation access	Better transportation access Strongly Disagree	Better transportation access Disagree	Better transportation access Neutral	Better transportation access Agree	Better transportation access Strongly Agree

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* 11. In your opinion, for the next 5 years what are the major constraints to the growth of your business?

	Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neutral	Agree	Strongly Agree
Global/ national economic performance	Global/ national economic performance Strongly Disagree	Global/ national economic performance Disagree	Global/ national economic performance Neutral	Global/ national economic performance Agree	Global/ national economic performance Strongly Agree
Rising overhead and utility costs	Rising overhead and utility costs Strongly Disagree	Rising overhead and utility costs Disagree	Rising overhead and utility costs Neutral	Rising overhead and utility costs Agree	Rising overhead and utility costs Strongly Agree
Declining demand from customers	Declining demand from customers Strongly Disagree	Declining demand from customers Disagree	Declining demand from customers Neutral	Declining demand from customers Agree	Declining demand from customers Strongly Agree
Availability of skilled workers	Availability of skilled workers Strongly Disagree	Availability of skilled workers Disagree	Availability of skilled workers Neutral	Availability of skilled workers Agree	Availability of skilled workers Strongly Agree
Problems with State and Local regulations	Problems with State and Local regulations Strongly Disagree	Problems with State and Local regulations Disagree	Problems with State and Local regulations Neutral	Problems with State and Local regulations Agree	Problems with State and Local regulations Strongly Agree
Expanding output through improved quality and performance	Expanding output through improved quality and performance Strongly Disagree	Expanding output through improved quality and performance Disagree	Expanding output through improved quality and performance Neutral	Expanding output through improved quality and performance Agree	Expanding output through improved quality and performance Strongly Agree
Rising transportation costs	Rising transportation costs Strongly Disagree	Rising transportation costs Disagree	Rising transportation costs Neutral	Rising transportation costs Agree	Rising transportation costs Strongly Agree
Increased competition from low cost imports	Increased competition from low cost imports Strongly Disagree	Increased competition from low cost imports Disagree	Increased competition from low cost imports Neutral	Increased competition from low cost imports Agree	Increased competition from low cost imports Strongly Agree
Price pressures from suppliers	Price pressures from suppliers Strongly Disagree	Price pressures from suppliers Disagree	Price pressures from suppliers Neutral	Price pressures from suppliers Agree	Price pressures from suppliers Strongly Agree
Difficulties in obtaining financing	Difficulties in obtaining financing Strongly Disagree	Difficulties in obtaining financing Disagree	Difficulties in obtaining financing Neutral	Difficulties in obtaining financing Agree	Difficulties in obtaining financing Strongly Agree
Transportation infrastructure	Transportation infrastructure Strongly Disagree	Transportation infrastructure Disagree	Transportation infrastructure Neutral	Transportation infrastructure Agree	Transportation infrastructure Strongly Agree
Broadband and information technology access	Broadband and information technology access Strongly Disagree	Broadband and information technology access Disagree	Broadband and information technology access Neutral	Broadband and information technology access Agree	Broadband and information technology access Strongly Agree
Access to employee training	Access to employee training Strongly Disagree	Access to employee training Disagree	Access to employee training Neutral	Access to employee training Agree	Access to employee training Strongly Agree

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Please rate the importance to your business of each of the following activities that may be undertaken by the Growth Council and its partners.

	No Impact	Not Important	Somewhat Important	Important	Very Important
Provide financial assistance such as low interest loans	Provide financial assistance such as low interest loans No Impact	Provide financial assistance such as low interest loans Not Important	Provide financial assistance such as low interest loans Somewhat Important	Provide financial assistance such as low interest loans Important	Provide financial assistance such as low interest loans Very Important
Assisting local firms to grow	Assisting local firms to grow No Impact	Assisting local firms to grow Not Important	Assisting local firms to grow Somewhat Important	Assisting local firms to grow Important	Assisting local firms to grow Very Important
Fostering collaboration among local elected officials	Fostering collaboration among local elected officials No Impact	Fostering collaboration among local elected officials Not Important	Fostering collaboration among local elected officials Somewhat Important	Fostering collaboration among local elected officials Important	Fostering collaboration among local elected officials Very Important
Attracting new business to the community	Attracting new business to the community No Impact	Attracting new business to the community Not Important	Attracting new business to the community Somewhat Important	Attracting new business to the community Important	Attracting new business to the community Very Important
Hosting private forums for you and your local peers to discuss common concerns	Hosting private forums for you and your local peers to discuss common concerns No Impact	Hosting private forums for you and your local peers to discuss common concerns Not Important	Hosting private forums for you and your local peers to discuss common concerns Somewhat Important	Hosting private forums for you and your local peers to discuss common concerns Important	Hosting private forums for you and your local peers to discuss common concerns Very Important
Assisting entrepreneurs to successfully launch new businesses	Assisting entrepreneurs to successfully launch new businesses No Impact	Assisting entrepreneurs to successfully launch new businesses Not Important	Assisting entrepreneurs to successfully launch new businesses Somewhat Important	Assisting entrepreneurs to successfully launch new businesses Important	Assisting entrepreneurs to successfully launch new businesses Very Important
Improving local business climate	Improving local business climate No Impact	Improving local business climate Not Important	Improving local business climate Somewhat Important	Improving local business climate Important	Improving local business climate Very Important

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* 13. How would you rate your company's financial situation today?

Very Good

Somewhat Good

Somewhat Bad

Very Bad

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* 14. Over the past 12 months, did your company's revenues:

Increase Greatly

Increase Slightly

Stay the Same

Decrease Greatly

Decrease Slightly

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* 15. How do you think your company's financial situation will be in 12 months from now?

Substantially Better

Slightly Better

The Same as Today

Slightly Worse

Substantially Worse

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* 16. How would you rate the situation of the Grant County economy in comparison to the national economy?

Substantially Better

Slightly Better

The Same

Slightly Worse

Substantially Worse

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* 17. Which type(s) of internet access do you use for your business? Please select all that apply

Dial-up

Broadband

Satellite

None

Other (please define)

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* 18. Prior to this survey, had you heard of the Grant County Economic Growth Council?

Yes

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* 19. Would your firm be interested in any of the following opportunities if the Growth Council could provide them at a discounted cost?

	Yes	No
Access to Comprehensive Financial Planning	Access to Comprehensive Financial Planning Yes	Access to Comprehensive Financial Planning No
Access to Management Training	Access to Management Training Yes	Access to Management Training No
Access to Non Traditional Financing	Access to Non Traditional Financing Yes	Access to Non Traditional Financing No
Access to Business Succession Planning	Access to Business Succession Planning Yes	Access to Business Succession Planning No
Access to Marketing Planning and Development	Access to Marketing Planning and Development Yes	Access to Marketing Planning and Development No
Access to Start Up Training	Access to Start Up Training Yes	Access to Start Up Training No

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* 20. Please share the one activity or service that the Growth Council can best help your business by providing?

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* 21. Would you like a copy of the 2012 Business Climate Survey Results?

Yes

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* 22. This survey was completed by and to receive a copy of the results:

Name:

Company:

Email Address:

Phone Number:

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* 1. What is the nature of your business? Please check all that apply.

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* 2. How many years have you been in business at current location?

Question Title

* 3. How many years have you been in business in Grant County?

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* 4. Your Current Location is?

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* 5. How many employees do you have?

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* 6. In general, how would you rate Grant County support of small business owners?

Question Title

* 7. Would you discourage or encourage others from starting a business in Grant County?

Question Title

* 8. How difficult or easy do you think it is to start a business in Grant County?

Question Title

* 9. In your mind what is the biggest challenge in starting a business in Grant County?

Question Title

* 10. During the next five years, the key factors that will impact my firm’s success will be:

Question Title

* 11. In your opinion, for the next 5 years what are the major constraints to the growth of your business?

Question Title

* 12. Please rate the importance to your business of each of the following activities that may be undertaken by the Growth Council and its partners.

Question Title

* 13. How would you rate your company's financial situation today?

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* 14. Over the past 12 months, did your company's revenues:

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* 15. How do you think your company's financial situation will be in 12 months from now?

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* 16. How would you rate the situation of the Grant County economy in comparison to the national economy?

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* 17. Which type(s) of internet access do you use for your business? Please select all that apply

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* 18. Prior to this survey, had you heard of the Grant County Economic Growth Council?

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* 19. Would your firm be interested in any of the following opportunities if the Growth Council could provide them at a discounted cost?

Question Title

* 20. Please share the one activity or service that the Growth Council can best help your business by providing?

Question Title

* 21. Would you like a copy of the 2012 Business Climate Survey Results?

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* 22. This survey was completed by and to receive a copy of the results:

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* 23. Please feel free to leave any additional comments you have: