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Flathead CEDS

Montana West Economic Development Corporation and Flathead County Economic Development Authority are conducting this survey to gather feedback for development of a  Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) for Flathead County.    Community input is important to the process and we  greatly appreciate your time in taking this survey.
1.Please select the industry sector that most closely matches your work focus.
2.What is the location of you business or place of employment?
3.Workforce Development.   Please rank the priorities for the following strategies.
Very High Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Low Priority
1.  Expand opportunities for students to engage in learning with local businesses. (e.g. internships and apprenticeship).
2.  Provide necessary resources and practical support to increase the rate of attainment of high school and college graduation of our local workforce. (Regional competitiveness increases with a skilled workforce and higher wage jobs follow.)
3. Help employers to access finances and resources to develop their existing workforce.
4. Educate employers/supervisors on diverse recruitment strategies.
5. Investigate creative ways to improve productivity of the current workforce.
4.Capital & Investments.  Please rank the priorities for the following strategies.
Very High Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Low Priority
1.  Provide access to non-traditional capital to supplement lending and investor activity.
2.  Increase and efficiently administer existing resources to support new and expanding business.
3.  Help protect and build upon our region's unique natural and cultural attractions in order to draw well-suited businesses and workers.
4. Support improvements in road quality and rail and air availability to lower cost of travel and transport of goods. 
5. Support improvements to water/sewer infrastructure.
6.  Invest in existing local industrial sites to attract 21st century businesses that create well-paid jobs and increase and diversify the tax base.
5.Tourism Development.  Please rank the priorities for the following strategies
Very High Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Low Priority
1.  Support tourism by creating a large public assembly and convention hall, since venues in the county are limited due to size and condition.
2.  Promote the area as a destination for year round leisure travel, meeting and convention opportunities.
3.  Enhance the County Fairgrounds as an asset to the county, communities and to business.
6.Entrepreneurship.  Please rank the priorities for the following strategies
Very High Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Low Priority
1. Determine which business development and growth activities are missing or are burdensome, and determine how they can be supplied or mitigated.
2.  Create a Centralize Hub dedicated to informing, educating and assisting entrepreneurs and businesses.
3. Identify and mobilize experienced, successful and skilled professionals to provide mentoring and business counseling services.
4. Identify and/or provide services for quality market analyses for local entrepreneurs and businesses from a qualified university with market research experience.
7.Business Support - Please rank how you think economic development agencies should prioritize the following.  
Very High Priority
High Priority
Medium Priority
Low Priority
1.  Seek creative options to increase the availability of larger buildings for manufacturing/warehousing specifications.
2.  Reduce energy costs for residents and business through conservation, efficiency and investments in the local energy supply.
3.  Support affordable and safe workforce housing options in partnership with community and business leaders in the valley.  .
4. Support improvements and availability of affordable and reliable high-speed broadband to enhance education, public safety, health care, business and government services.
5.  Support workable local options tax legislation that enable local governments to raise funds for specific local projects.
8.What unique strengths can Flathead County build on for economic development and growth?
9.What  weaknesses pose challenges to economic development in Flathead County?
10.List other economic development strategies that you think would be successful in Flathead County?
11.Please recommend the top 3-5 projects in your area in which the Flathead County Economic Development Authority should invest their time or funds to advance the goals of the CEDS.