Thank you for giving us an opportunity to serve you better.

The purpose of this survey is to learn more about companies in the City of Snohomish in order to better support those businesses. In addition to learning information that will help in planning programs and services that are designed to support area companies, your responses will enable us to identify ways in which we can support your specific company.  This survey is being conducted as part of city's Business Retention and Expansion program entitled, Business Ambassadors.  We know your time is valuable and appreciate you taking the time to fill out this survey.  Few of the fields are required, so if you don't have an answer to every question, we still want to hear from you.  Any information, no matter how small, helps us serve you better.  If you have any questions about this survey, please contact James Palmer, City of Snohomish Economic Development Specialist at <james.palmer@snohomishwa.gov> 

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* 1. Company Name:

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* 2. Contact Person:

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* 3. Title:

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* 4. Address:

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* 5. Phone:

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* 6. Email:

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* 7. Website:

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* 8. Years at Current Location:

MARKETS & PRODUCTS

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* 9. What markets does your company serve?

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* 10. Your markets' current status:

PERSONNEL & LABOR

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* 11. Number of Employees:

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* 12. What is the composition of your labor force:

  Number of Employees
Skilled/Technical (Required a college degree or specific certification and or training to do the job)
Unskilled/General Labor (No special training or certification required to do job)
Clerical/Office/Data Entry (Role is exclusively non-manual labor. May include degreed, certified and non-certified )
Managerial/Supervisory (Manages at least one person)

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* 13. Current Employment Status:

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* 14. What demand (no. of new employees) do you anticipate for additional work force during 2018?  Skip if no planned expansion

  No. of new employees
Skilled/Technical
Unskilled/General Labor
Clerical/Office/Data Entry
Supervisory/Managerial

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* 15. What demand (no. of new employees) do you anticipate for additional work force during 2019?  Skip if no planned expansion

  No. of new employees
Skilled/Technical
Unskilled/General Labor
Clerical/Office/Data Entry
Supervisory/Managerial
Consider the following labor-skill categories, and select the response that represents your opinion on their availability for employment locally and the quality of basic skills possessed by new employees:

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* 16. AVAILABILITY

  Excellent Good Average Poor No Opinion
Skilled/Technical
Unskilled/General Labor
Clerical/Office/Data Entry
Supervisory/Managerial

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* 17. QUALITY OF SKILLS

  Excellent Good Average Poor No Opinion
Skilled/Technical
Unskilled/General Labor
Clerical/Office/Data Entry
Supervisory/Managerial

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* 18. If recruiting personnel is difficult, what factors contribute to these difficulties? (Check all that apply.)

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* 19. How do you recruit labor? (Check all that apply.)

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* 20. What other labor difficulties, if any, have you experienced?  (turnover, productivity, union activity, trailing spouse, etc.)

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* 21. What skills are currently NOT being met in your business?

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* 22. Has your company participated in any state-sponsored job training programs?

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* 23. If yes, what were the results?

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* 24. Have you worked with any of the following institutions to provide customized training for your employees?

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* 25. Would you be interested in job training programs designed to meet your employment needs?

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* 26. If yes, what specific training?

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* 27. Any additional comments about labor conditions in the City of Snohomish?

COMMUNITY SERVICES & ASSETS

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* 28. Service Quality

  Excellent Good Average Poor No Opinion
Garbage/Recycle
Water/Sewer
Gas
Telecommunications
Public Transportation
Community Services
Health Care
Entertainment/Recreation
Education (K-12)
Higher Education
Police Protection
Fire Protection
Paramedic/EMT Services
Streets and Highways

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* 29. Service Costs/Rates

  Excellent Good Average Poor No Opinion
Garbage/Recycling
Water/Sewer
Gas
Electric
Telecommunications
Public Transportation
Community Services
Health Care
Entertainment/Recreation
Education (K-12)
Higher Education
Police Protection
Fire Protection
Paramedic/EMT Services
Streets and Highways

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* 30. Additional comments regarding city services:

BUSINESS ACTIVITY/BUSINESS CLIMATE

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* 31. Does your company plan to establish new or expanded operations outside of Snohomish County area?

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* 32. If yes, where and why are you not expanding in Snohomish County?

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* 33. In which of the following areas has your company expanded in the past year?  (Check all that apply)

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* 34. If you expanded employment last year, how many employees did you add?

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* 35. In which of the following areas do you anticipate growth in the next year?  (Check all that apply)

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* 36. If you intend to hire more employees next year, how many employees will you add?

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* 37. Are you planning an expansion or new facilities within the County over the next 5 years?

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* 38. If yes, please explain:

BUSINESS ASSISTANCE

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* 39. Is your company currently challenged by any of the following issues?  (Check all that apply)

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* 40. Please describe the most critical issue facing your company:

SNOHOMISH QUARTERLY MAGAZINE
Earlier this year, the City of Snohomish engaged Philips Publishing Group to publish a quarterly, four-color glossy intended to better communicate news about the city with residents, and to provide local Snohomish businesses with an effective, affordable advertising vehicle to build your brand and build your customer base.

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* 41. Have you seen Snohomish Quarterly Magazine?

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* 42. Do you advertise in any publication or print media?

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* 43. If no, why not?  Cost? Effectiveness? Etc.

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* 44. If yes, which publications are you currently advertising in?

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* 45. Do you have any thoughts or comments on how the Snohomish Quarterly Magazine meets its mission of reaching and informing the citizens of Snohomish.

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* 46. Do you have any suggestions on how Snohomish Quarterly Magazine can better promote local businesses?

HISTORIC DOWNTOWN SNOHOMISH BUSINESS DISTRICT
If your business is outside of the Historic Downtown Snohomish (HDS) Business District, you are finished with the survey and we thank you for your particpation.  If your business is located within the HDS, we would like to ask you a few more questions that are specifically related to the HDS and its unique issues.

The HDS is critical to the economic vitality of the City of Snohomish.  Its health and productivity as a business district affect all parts of the city and it is essential to maintaining  an overall healthy business climate in the city.  Please help us gather some information that will keep the HDS a thriving business district at the heart of the community.
PARKING

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* 47. I do not feel there are currently any parking problems in the HDS.

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* 48. My customers regularly inform me of the difficulty of parking in the HDS.

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* 49. I/my employees park outside of the HDS (or walk to work) leaving parking available for customers.

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* 50. I would like to see physical pay parking stations installed in the HDS.

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* 51. I would like to see the City use pay stations that use phone based apps to pay.

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* 52. I wold like to see the City use an automated license plate recognition system by law/parking enforcement.

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* 53. I feel my customers and or my employees would pay no more than the following amounts (per hour) for parking in the HDS.

EVENTS
There are many events throughout the year hosted in the HDS that are intended to bring in visitors and promote the city as a destination.  For events hosted in the HDS:

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* 54. Please identify those events that are most beneficial to your business:

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* 55. Please identify those events that negatively affect your business:

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* 56. For events that have a negative impact on your business, please describe how they impact your business.

APPEARANCE

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* 57. As a historical district, appearance of the HDS is important in maintaining its charm and attraction to outside visitors.  One of the challenges of historical districts is maintaining the charm of old infrastructure while ensuring that things don't look "run down" or "shabby."  Please comment on the following aspects of the HDS's appearance.

  Very Satisfied Satisfied Somewhat Satisfied Somewhat Dissatisfied Dissatisfied Very Dissatisfied
Overall Appearance
Street Lights
Sidewalks
Banners
City Signs, Directional Signs, Location Markers
Individual Business Signs, Commercial Signs
Buildings' Appearance
You're done!  We appreciate your cooperation and taking the time to help us understand your business.  You may receive a phone call from Mr. James Palmer, Economic Development Specialist for the City of Snohomish, as a follow up to this survey to discuss in more detail some of your answers.  All businesses are encouraged to contact Mr. Palmer with any additional comments or questions.  He can be reached at 425-328-5168 or at <james.palmer@snohomishwa.gov>.

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