Taos County Economic Vitality Survey 2021

Dear business and organization leaders of Taos County,

We greatly appreciate you taking the time to fill out the following survey. We know how busy everyone is! This will take about 15 minutes - possibly longer if you have a lot to say on the open answer questions. The information we learn from this survey will help us help you. We know our business community has unmet needs and could use more support if we are to see Taos County thrive in the years to come. But without hearing your voices, needs, and struggles, our economic development organizations and local governments won’t be able to develop programming and policy that explicitly addresses your needs. So help us make sure your voices are heard by answering these questions as completely as you can! PLEASE COMPLETE THE SURVEY BY MAY 17th.

And don’t worry about who might see your answers. We want you to be COMPLETELY honest. For this reason, all responses will be compiled and reviewed by a third party and kept confidential. Results will be presented to the public and our fellow organizations in aggregate, so no one will know how you responded. Quotes may be pulled from written responses for publication, but will be scrubbed of any information that could be linked to you or the entity you run and we’ll destroy all responses once we’re done.

Thank you again! We hope you can have a little fun with this.

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* 1. Which of the following industry categories best describes your operation?

Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting

Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction

Utilities

Construction

Manufacturing

Wholesale trade

Retail trade

Transportation and warehousing

Information, film & television

Finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing

Professional and business services

Educational services, health care, and social assistance

Arts, entertainment, recreation

Accommodation, and food services

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* 2. What sort of operation do you own or operate (for instance, a restaurant, construction company, or social services provider):

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* 3. What sort of operation do you run?

Non-profit organization

For-profit business (including sole-proprietors and other independent contractors)

Public entity

Co-op

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Where is your operation located?

Within Town of Taos MainStreet District

Town of Taos, not within District

Questa

Peñasco

Taos Pueblo

Picuris Pueblo

Taos Ski Valley

Ojo Caliente

Arroyo Seco

Unincorporated Taos County

Other (please specify)

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* 5. What is your ethnicity:

Anglo

Hispanic

Native American

Other (please specify)

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* 6. What is your age:

Under 30

30-45

45-65

Over 65

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* 7. Where does your clientele reside (rate on a scale of 0 - 5 with 0 meaning none of your clientele comes from this geography, 5 meaning most of your clientele comes from this geography):

	0	1	2	3	4	5
Within Taos County	Within Taos County 0	Within Taos County 1	Within Taos County 2	Within Taos County 3	Within Taos County 4	Within Taos County 5
Within the State of New Mexico	Within the State of New Mexico 0	Within the State of New Mexico 1	Within the State of New Mexico 2	Within the State of New Mexico 3	Within the State of New Mexico 4	Within the State of New Mexico 5
National	National 0	National 1	National 2	National 3	National 4	National 5
International	International 0	International 1	International 2	International 3	International 4	International 5

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* 8. If the majority of your clientele resides in a smaller geography than the county (such as within Questa, the Town of Taos, or Taos Pueblo), please list here. If this question is not relevant to you, please skip.

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* 9. Does your operation have an online presence?

None

Social Media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.)

Website

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* 10. Do you have plans to increase your online presence in the coming year?

Yes

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* 11. If so, who will do this work?

You, personally have the skills to increase your online presence

You have in-house staff with the skills to increase your online presence

You will hire an outside entity to help increase your online presence

You have no plans to increase your online presence

Other (please specify)

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* 12. What are you anticipating the coming 12 months will be like for your operation? Do you anticipate growing, shrinking or staying the same size/scope? Think about things like expanding/contracting space, staff, geography served, etc. What factors lead you to plan for expansion/contraction/staying where you are?

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* 13. Why did you decide to go into business in Taos County? For example, is your business located here for personal reasons (such as your family being her or quality of life factors), or for professional reasons (such as access to markets, materials, or some other reason location in Taos County might have a professional comparative advantage over location elsewhere)? Tell us as much as you can.

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* 14. Rate how easily you can find and retain qualified labor from within Taos County

It is very easy to find and retain qualified labor in my field from within Taos County

It is somewhat easy to find and retain qualified labor in my field from within Taos County

Being located in Taos County has no positive or negative effect on my ability to find and retain qualified labor in my field

It is somewhat difficult to find and retain qualified labor in my field from within Taos County

It is very difficult to find and retain qualified labor in my field from within Taos County

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* 15. Tell us more about your answer. For example are there particular skills you struggle to access in the local labor market such as tech skills or soft skills?

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* 16. Rate how easily you can access supplies and equipment necessary for your operation while located in Taos County

It is very easy to access materials in Taos County`

It is somewhat easy to access materials in Taos County

Being located in Taos County has no positive or negative effect on my ability to access materials

It is somewhat difficult to access materials in Taos County

It is very difficult to access materials in Taos County

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* 17. Tell us more about you answer. For example, are there particulary types of materials that are more difficult or easier to obtain in Taos County? Is cost or access more of an issue?

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* 18. Rate how easily you can access professional development resources and opportunities in your field while located in Taos County:

It is very easy to access learning opportunities and innovations in my field in Taos

It is somewhat easy to accesses learning opportunities and innovations in my field in Taos

Being located in Taos County has no positive or negative effect on my ability to access learning opportunities or innovations in my field

It is somewhat difficult to access learning opportunities and innovations in my field in Taos

It is very difficult to access learning opportunities and innovations in my field in Taos

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* 19. Tell us more about your experience accessing professional development opportunities in your field while located in Taos:

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* 20. Rate how easily you can access collaborative and networking opportunities in your industry while located in Taos County:

It is very easy to collaborate and network within my field in Taos County

It is somewhat easy to collaborate and network within my field in Taos County

Being located in Taos County has no effect on my ability to collaborate and network within my field.

It is somewhat difficult to collaborate and network within my field in Taos County

It is very difficult to collaborate and network within my field in Taos County

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* 21. Tell us more about your answer, for example, is it difficult because your industry is so small here, or does being located here have no effect because most of your collaborations happen online, or is it very easy because your industry is large and vital here?

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* 22. Where is most of your professional network located?

Within Taos County

Not within Taos County but within New Mexico

Not within New Mexico but within the United States

Primarily outside the United States

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* 23. Have you had challenges accessing investment capital (for-profit entities) or foundation and donor funds (for non-profit entities) from within Taos County

It is very easy to access investment capital/foundation or donor funds from within Taos County

It is somewhat easy to access investment capital/foundation or donor funds from within Taos County

Being located in Taos County has no effect on my ability to access investment capital/ foundation and donor funds

It is somewhat difficult to access investment capital/foundation or donor funds from within Taos County

It is very difficult to access investment capital/foundation or donor funds from within Taos County

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* 24. Tell us more about your experience accessing necessary financial inputs for your operation:

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* 25. Rate how easily you can access business support services (such as legal consultation, tax and financial planning support, market analysis, etc.) while located in Taos County:

It is very easy to access business support services in Taos County

It is somewhat easy to access business support services in Taos County

Being located in Taos County has no effect on my ability to access business support services

It is somewhat difficult to access business support services in Taos County

It is very difficult to access business support services in Taos County

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* 26. Tell us more about the ease or difficulty you experience in accessing business support services. Any business support services you cannot find locally and need?

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* 27. Rate how being located within Taos County helps or hinders your operation in accessing markets (customers) for your services or products:

Being located in Taos County is very helpful for accessing markets for my services/products

Being located in Taos County is somewhat helpful for accessing markets for my services/products

Being located in Taos County has no effect on my ability to access markets

Being located in Taos County makes accessing markets for my services/products somewhat difficult

Being located in Taos County makes accessing markets for my services/products very difficult

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* 28. Tell us more about your ability to access customers while located in Taos:

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* 29. Overall, do you think it is a benefit or a hindrance to the success of your entity to have it located in Taos County as opposed to somewhere else? Why?

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* 30. How would you describe the Taos ‘brand’?

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* 31. Does the Taos 'brand' help or hinder you in your own branding/marketing efforts?

The Taos ‘brand’ is very helpful in my own branding and marketing efforts

The Taos ‘brand’ is somewhat helpful in my own branding and marketing efforts

The Taos ‘brand’ has no effect on my own efforts to brand and market my products or services

The Taos ‘brand’ makes it somewhat more difficult to brand and market my products or services

The Taos ‘brand makes it very difficult to brand and market my products or services

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* 32. Tell us more about how being associated with Taos helps or hinders your entity in branding and marketing:

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* 33. What transportation infrastructure is most important to the success of your operation? Please rate each in order of importance – with 1 indicating minimal importance and 5 indicating such infrastructure is essential to the success of your operation:

	1	2	3	4	5
Roads and highways	Roads and highways 1	Roads and highways 2	Roads and highways 3	Roads and highways 4	Roads and highways 5
Sidewalks	Sidewalks 1	Sidewalks 2	Sidewalks 3	Sidewalks 4	Sidewalks 5
Taos Airport	Taos Airport 1	Taos Airport 2	Taos Airport 3	Taos Airport 4	Taos Airport 5
Santa Fe Airport	Santa Fe Airport 1	Santa Fe Airport 2	Santa Fe Airport 3	Santa Fe Airport 4	Santa Fe Airport 5
Albuquerque Sunport	Albuquerque Sunport 1	Albuquerque Sunport 2	Albuquerque Sunport 3	Albuquerque Sunport 4	Albuquerque Sunport 5
Public Transportation services (Bus, Taxi, Uber	Public Transportation services (Bus, Taxi, Uber 1	Public Transportation services (Bus, Taxi, Uber 2	Public Transportation services (Bus, Taxi, Uber 3	Public Transportation services (Bus, Taxi, Uber 4	Public Transportation services (Bus, Taxi, Uber 5
Bike lanes	Bike lanes 1	Bike lanes 2	Bike lanes 3	Bike lanes 4	Bike lanes 5

Other (please specify)

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* 34. What space and event infrastructure is most important to the success of your operation? Please rate each in order of importance – with 1 indicating minimal importance and 5 indicating such infrastructure is essential to the success of your operation

	1	2	3	4	5
Large indoor event spaces	Large indoor event spaces 1	Large indoor event spaces 2	Large indoor event spaces 3	Large indoor event spaces 4	Large indoor event spaces 5
Large outdoor event spaces	Large outdoor event spaces 1	Large outdoor event spaces 2	Large outdoor event spaces 3	Large outdoor event spaces 4	Large outdoor event spaces 5
Meeting spaces	Meeting spaces 1	Meeting spaces 2	Meeting spaces 3	Meeting spaces 4	Meeting spaces 5
Industrial spaces	Industrial spaces 1	Industrial spaces 2	Industrial spaces 3	Industrial spaces 4	Industrial spaces 5
Office space	Office space 1	Office space 2	Office space 3	Office space 4	Office space 5
Retail space	Retail space 1	Retail space 2	Retail space 3	Retail space 4	Retail space 5
Affordable housing	Affordable housing 1	Affordable housing 2	Affordable housing 3	Affordable housing 4	Affordable housing 5

Other (please specify)

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* 35. What utility infrastructure is most important to the success of your operation? Please rate each in order of importance – with 1 indicating minimal importance and 5 indicating such infrastructure is essential to the success of your operation

	1	2	3	4	5
Broadband	Broadband 1	Broadband 2	Broadband 3	Broadband 4	Broadband 5
Cell service	Cell service 1	Cell service 2	Cell service 3	Cell service 4	Cell service 5
Public water system access	Public water system access 1	Public water system access 2	Public water system access 3	Public water system access 4	Public water system access 5
Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations	Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations 1	Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations 2	Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations 3	Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations 4	Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations 5

Other (please specify)

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* 36. What community services are most important to the success of your operation? Please rate each in order of importance – with 1 indicating minimal importance and 5 indicating such infrastructure is essential to the success of your operation

	1	2	3	4	5
Quality primary and secondary schools	Quality primary and secondary schools 1	Quality primary and secondary schools 2	Quality primary and secondary schools 3	Quality primary and secondary schools 4	Quality primary and secondary schools 5
Quality higher education access	Quality higher education access 1	Quality higher education access 2	Quality higher education access 3	Quality higher education access 4	Quality higher education access 5
Vocational training	Vocational training 1	Vocational training 2	Vocational training 3	Vocational training 4	Vocational training 5
Quality Healthcare and Healthcare access	Quality Healthcare and Healthcare access 1	Quality Healthcare and Healthcare access 2	Quality Healthcare and Healthcare access 3	Quality Healthcare and Healthcare access 4	Quality Healthcare and Healthcare access 5
Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities	Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities 1	Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities 2	Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities 3	Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities 4	Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities 5

Other (please specify)

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* 37. What infrastructural needs are we missing and why are they important to your operation?

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* 38. Please rate the quality/availability of each transportation infrastructure need in Taos with 1 being poor quality or availability and 5 being high quality or availability:

	1	2	3	4	5
Roads and highways	Roads and highways 1	Roads and highways 2	Roads and highways 3	Roads and highways 4	Roads and highways 5
Sidewalks	Sidewalks 1	Sidewalks 2	Sidewalks 3	Sidewalks 4	Sidewalks 5
Taos Airport	Taos Airport 1	Taos Airport 2	Taos Airport 3	Taos Airport 4	Taos Airport 5
Santa Fe Airport	Santa Fe Airport 1	Santa Fe Airport 2	Santa Fe Airport 3	Santa Fe Airport 4	Santa Fe Airport 5
Albuquerque Sunport	Albuquerque Sunport 1	Albuquerque Sunport 2	Albuquerque Sunport 3	Albuquerque Sunport 4	Albuquerque Sunport 5
Public Transportation (Bus, Taxi, Uber)	Public Transportation (Bus, Taxi, Uber) 1	Public Transportation (Bus, Taxi, Uber) 2	Public Transportation (Bus, Taxi, Uber) 3	Public Transportation (Bus, Taxi, Uber) 4	Public Transportation (Bus, Taxi, Uber) 5
Public Parking	Public Parking 1	Public Parking 2	Public Parking 3	Public Parking 4	Public Parking 5

Other (please specify)

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* 39. Please rate the quality/availability of built environment infrastructure needs in Taos with 1 being poor quality or availability and 5 being high quality or availability:

	1	2	3	4	5
Large indoor event space	Large indoor event space 1	Large indoor event space 2	Large indoor event space 3	Large indoor event space 4	Large indoor event space 5
Large outdoor event space	Large outdoor event space 1	Large outdoor event space 2	Large outdoor event space 3	Large outdoor event space 4	Large outdoor event space 5
Meeting Space	Meeting Space 1	Meeting Space 2	Meeting Space 3	Meeting Space 4	Meeting Space 5
Industrial space	Industrial space 1	Industrial space 2	Industrial space 3	Industrial space 4	Industrial space 5
Office space	Office space 1	Office space 2	Office space 3	Office space 4	Office space 5
Retail space	Retail space 1	Retail space 2	Retail space 3	Retail space 4	Retail space 5
Affordable housing	Affordable housing 1	Affordable housing 2	Affordable housing 3	Affordable housing 4	Affordable housing 5

Other (please specify)

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* 40. Please rate the quality/availability of our utility services in Taos with 1 being poor quality or availability and 5 being high quality or availability:

	1	2	3	4	5
Broadband service	Broadband service 1	Broadband service 2	Broadband service 3	Broadband service 4	Broadband service 5
Cell service	Cell service 1	Cell service 2	Cell service 3	Cell service 4	Cell service 5
Public water system access	Public water system access 1	Public water system access 2	Public water system access 3	Public water system access 4	Public water system access 5
Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations	Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations 1	Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations 2	Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations 3	Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations 4	Green/ Solar/ EV Charging Stations 5

Other (please specify)

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* 41. Please rate the quality/availability of each community service need in Taos with 1 being poor quality or availability and 5 being high quality or availability:

	1	2	3	4	5
Quality primary and secondary schools	Quality primary and secondary schools 1	Quality primary and secondary schools 2	Quality primary and secondary schools 3	Quality primary and secondary schools 4	Quality primary and secondary schools 5
Quality higher education access	Quality higher education access 1	Quality higher education access 2	Quality higher education access 3	Quality higher education access 4	Quality higher education access 5
Vocational training	Vocational training 1	Vocational training 2	Vocational training 3	Vocational training 4	Vocational training 5
Healthcare and Healthcare access	Healthcare and Healthcare access 1	Healthcare and Healthcare access 2	Healthcare and Healthcare access 3	Healthcare and Healthcare access 4	Healthcare and Healthcare access 5
Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities	Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities 1	Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities 2	Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities 3	Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities 4	Behavioral Health/ Substance Abuse/Abuse services and facilities 5

Other (please specify)

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* 42. Please explain your highest ratings for infrastructure:

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* 43. Please explain your lowest ratings for infrastructure:

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* 44. What business support services are you aware of? What among these have you interacted with?

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* 45. What among these services was most helpful in your development efforts and why?

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* 46. What do you see as the greatest strengths of the Taos County Economy? What do you see as the greatest weaknesses?

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* 47. What else would you like public officials and organizations involved in economic development in Taos County to know about the needs of your operation as they consider policy and program development?

	Aware of:	Receive services from:
Taos County Chamber of Commerce	Taos County Chamber of Commerce Aware of:	Taos County Chamber of Commerce Receive services from:
Taos Small Business Development Center (SBDC)	Taos Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Aware of:	Taos Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Receive services from:
New Mexico Economic Development Department	New Mexico Economic Development Department Aware of:	New Mexico Economic Development Department Receive services from:
Taos MainStreet	Taos MainStreet Aware of:	Taos MainStreet Receive services from:
UNM-Taos Hub of Internet-based Vocation and Education (HIVE)	UNM-Taos Hub of Internet-based Vocation and Education (HIVE) Aware of:	UNM-Taos Hub of Internet-based Vocation and Education (HIVE) Receive services from:
UNM-Taos Taos Education and Career Center	UNM-Taos Taos Education and Career Center Aware of:	UNM-Taos Taos Education and Career Center Receive services from:
Taos County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC)	Taos County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) Aware of:	Taos County Economic Development Corporation (TCEDC) Receive services from:
Taos Entrepreneurial Network (TEN)	Taos Entrepreneurial Network (TEN) Aware of:	Taos Entrepreneurial Network (TEN) Receive services from:
Questa Economic Development Fund (QEDF)	Questa Economic Development Fund (QEDF) Aware of:	Questa Economic Development Fund (QEDF) Receive services from:
New Mexico Workforce Solutions	New Mexico Workforce Solutions Aware of:	New Mexico Workforce Solutions Receive services from:
LANL Foundation	LANL Foundation Aware of:	LANL Foundation Receive services from:
The Loan Fund	The Loan Fund Aware of:	The Loan Fund Receive services from:
New Mexico Small Business Administration (NMSBA)	New Mexico Small Business Administration (NMSBA) Aware of:	New Mexico Small Business Administration (NMSBA) Receive services from:
Northern New Mexico Regional Development Corporation	Northern New Mexico Regional Development Corporation Aware of:	Northern New Mexico Regional Development Corporation Receive services from:
Sandia Labs	Sandia Labs Aware of:	Sandia Labs Receive services from: