Tampa Business Survey: Opportunities, Challenges & the City We Want to Build Together

Your responses are anonymous, confidential and will directly shape Taryn's policy platform for a Tampa that prioritizes small businesses as true partners in building this city. Thank you for your time and your voice.

Section 1 — Your Business Profile

Question Title

1.
BUSINESS TYPE
What type of business do you operate?

Restaurant / food & beverage

Retail

Professional services (legal, accounting, consulting, design)

Health & wellness

Arts, culture & entertainment

Construction / trades

Technology

Other (please specify)

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2.
What is the size of your business?

1-2 employees

3-5 employees

5-10 employees

10-20 employees

20-50 employees

50+ employees

Its just me hustling

Question Title

3.
LOCATION: Which part of the city of Tampa is your business located in?

Downtown

Channel District

Ybor City

East Tampa

Seminole Heights

Tampa Heights

South Tampa

Hyde Park

South of Gandy

West Tampa

Westshore

USF Area

New Tampa

Other / multiple locations

Not located in the city limits but we do most of our work in the City of Tampa

Question Title

4.
YEARS IN BUSINESS: How long has your business been operating in Tampa?

Less than 1 year

1–3 years

4–10 years

More than 10 years

Section 2 — Costs & Operating Environment

Question Title

5.
OPERATING COSTS: How significantly are rising costs — rent, utilities, insurance, and fees — affecting your ability to operate in Tampa right now?

Not significantly — costs are manageable

Somewhat — creating real strain but we’re adapting

Significantly — threatening our ability to stay open

Critically — we are considering relocating or closing

Question Title

6.
PERMITTING & LICENSING: How would you rate your experience navigating Tampa’s permitting and licensing process?

Smooth and efficient

Manageable but slow

Confusing and inconsistent

A serious barrier to my business operations

Question Title

7.
TOP CHALLENGES: What are the biggest obstacles your business faces in Tampa today? (Select up to 3)

Finding and retaining qualified employees

Affordable commercial space or rising rent

Slow or unclear city permitting processes

Lack of access to capital or small business grants

Competition from large chains or out-of-state businesses

Lack of foot traffic, visibility, or customer access

Displacement pressure from nearby development

Limited city support or outreach to small businesses

Other (please specify)

Question Title

8.
DEVELOPMENT & DISPLACEMENT: Has large-scale development in or near your neighborhood affected your business — positively or negatively?

Positively — increased foot traffic and customers

Negatively — rising rents, reduced parking, or loss of customers

Both — mixed impact

No noticeable impact

I am at risk of displacement due to rising costs or redevelopment

Other (please specify)

Section 4 — City Hall & Support

Question Title

9.
CITY HALL ACCESS
How well does Tampa city hall currently support small businesses with practical resources — grants, technical assistance, regulatory guidance?

Very well — I’ve used city resources and found them helpful

Somewhat — resources exist but are hard to find or access

Poorly — I’m unaware of meaningful city support for small businesses

I've tried to access support and was unable to navigate the process

Other (please specify)

Question Title

10.
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY
How much do you feel like a valued partner — rather than an afterthought — in decisions that shape Tampa’s business environment?
Rate on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (fully a partner):

1 (not at all)

neutral - The city doesn't help or hurt my business

5 (fully a partner)

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Section 5 — Workforce & Talent

Question Title

11.
WORKFORCE CHALLENGES
Which workforce challenges are most pressing for your business? (Select all that apply)

Difficulty finding qualified candidates

High employee turnover

Inability to compete with large employers on wages or benefits

Lack of local workforce training programs in my industry

Workers can’t afford to live in Tampa near where I operate

Not currently facing workforce challenges

Section 6 — Vision & Policy Priorities

Question Title

12.
CITY PRIORITIES
Which city-led actions would most help your business thrive? (Select up to 3)

Streamline permitting and reduce wait times

Create affordable commercial space or lease stabilization programs

Expand small business grant and microloan programs

Improve transit and pedestrian access to business corridors

Ensure small businesses have a seat at the table in development decisions

Provide dedicated small business navigators at city hall

Invest in neighborhood commercial districts equitably across Tampa

Other (please specify)

Question Title

13.
TAMPA’S BUSINESS IDENTITY
What kind of business city do you want Tampa to become known as?

A city that actively protects and champions local, independent businesses

A regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship

A city where starting and growing a small business is simple and supported

A city known for vibrant, walkable neighborhood commercial corridors

A model of equitable economic development across all neighborhoods

Question Title

14.
YOUR VOICE
What is the single most important thing Tampa’s next mayor could do to help your business — and businesses like yours — thrive?

Thank you. Your voice shapes what Tampa can become.

Want to continue the dialog, we would love to hear from you:
(813) 704-0322‬
contact@tarynformayor.com
PO BOX 172133, Tampa, FL 33672

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Tampa Business Survey: Opportunities, Challenges & the City We Want to Build Together

Question Title

* 1. BUSINESS TYPEWhat type of business do you operate?

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* 2. What is the size of your business?

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* 3. LOCATION: Which part of the city of Tampa is your business located in?

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* 4. YEARS IN BUSINESS: How long has your business been operating in Tampa?

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* 5. OPERATING COSTS: How significantly are rising costs — rent, utilities, insurance, and fees — affecting your ability to operate in Tampa right now?

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* 6. PERMITTING & LICENSING: How would you rate your experience navigating Tampa’s permitting and licensing process?

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* 7. TOP CHALLENGES: What are the biggest obstacles your business faces in Tampa today? (Select up to 3)

Question Title

* 8. DEVELOPMENT & DISPLACEMENT: Has large-scale development in or near your neighborhood affected your business — positively or negatively?

Question Title

* 9. CITY HALL ACCESSHow well does Tampa city hall currently support small businesses with practical resources — grants, technical assistance, regulatory guidance?

Question Title

* 10. PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITYHow much do you feel like a valued partner — rather than an afterthought — in decisions that shape Tampa’s business environment?Rate on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (fully a partner):

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* 11. WORKFORCE CHALLENGESWhich workforce challenges are most pressing for your business? (Select all that apply)

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* 12. CITY PRIORITIESWhich city-led actions would most help your business thrive? (Select up to 3)

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* 13. TAMPA’S BUSINESS IDENTITYWhat kind of business city do you want Tampa to become known as?

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* 14. YOUR VOICEWhat is the single most important thing Tampa’s next mayor could do to help your business — and businesses like yours — thrive?

1.
BUSINESS TYPE
What type of business do you operate?

2.
What is the size of your business?

3.
LOCATION: Which part of the city of Tampa is your business located in?

4.
YEARS IN BUSINESS: How long has your business been operating in Tampa?

5.
OPERATING COSTS: How significantly are rising costs — rent, utilities, insurance, and fees — affecting your ability to operate in Tampa right now?

6.
PERMITTING & LICENSING: How would you rate your experience navigating Tampa’s permitting and licensing process?

7.
TOP CHALLENGES: What are the biggest obstacles your business faces in Tampa today? (Select up to 3)

8.
DEVELOPMENT & DISPLACEMENT: Has large-scale development in or near your neighborhood affected your business — positively or negatively?

9.
CITY HALL ACCESS
How well does Tampa city hall currently support small businesses with practical resources — grants, technical assistance, regulatory guidance?

10.
PARTNERSHIP WITH THE CITY
How much do you feel like a valued partner — rather than an afterthought — in decisions that shape Tampa’s business environment?
Rate on a scale of 1 (not at all) to 5 (fully a partner):

11.
WORKFORCE CHALLENGES
Which workforce challenges are most pressing for your business? (Select all that apply)

12.
CITY PRIORITIES
Which city-led actions would most help your business thrive? (Select up to 3)

13.
TAMPA’S BUSINESS IDENTITY
What kind of business city do you want Tampa to become known as?

14.
YOUR VOICE
What is the single most important thing Tampa’s next mayor could do to help your business — and businesses like yours — thrive?