Southern Colorado Economic Development District

Economic Strategy Survey

This Economic Strategy Survey is meant to begin to focus SCEDD’s efforts on identifying economic priorities and areas of need for each of our 13 member counties. The survey's high-level approach will assist future County economic committee groups by providing information by sharing your priorities as identified throughout the survey. The results of this survey will serve as the starting point in the spring of 2021 for the required Strengths Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy update and help the County economic committee groups to develop the project, policies, and economic development strategies for the Counties where you live and work. Thank you for your participation and we look forward to serving your Community in the future. This survey will take 10-15 minutes so thank you for taking time out of your busy day.

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* 1. Please select the County where you work, live, or serve as a representative. If you live and work in different Counties, please select the County where you work. If you work in multiple Counties please select the County where you office.

Baca County

Bent County

Chaffe County

Custer County

Crowley County

Fremont County

Prowers County

Huerfano County

Kiowa County

Lake County

Las Animas County

Otero County

Pueblo County

Other (please specify)

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* 2. Please select the following that best represents your working role within the County.

Elected Official

Government employee or appointed liaison to Board or Commission

Economic Development Director or staff

Agriculture or Ranching

Business/Professional Services

Construction, Machinery, or Home Industry

Education

Entertainment, Leisure, or Hospitality

Finance and Financial Services

Food & Beverage

Government

Healthcare

Nonprofit

Retail

Real Estate

Telecommunications, Technology, Internet & Electronics

Transportation & Delivery

Utilities, Energy, & Extraction

Interested Citizen

I am currently not employed or Retired

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Please rate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 on your business or organization.

Major disruption- 25% or more loss in revenues, employee furloughs or layoffs, or extended business closures

Medium Disruption- 25%-5% loss in revenue, employee quarantines, or short business disruption

Low Disruption- 5% or less loss in revenue, no employee disruption, or no required closure

Neutral- no noticeable impacts

Positive impact- increased revenues and business resulting from consumer spending changes, increase business, additional grant funding or government contracts

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* 4. Please select any of the following ways the COVID-19 pandemic has personally impacted you or the way your business is conducted.

Sickness resulting from contraction of COVID-19

Mandated Closures or quarantine orders

Working from home

Increased need for childcare during the workday

Loss of employment

Loss of revenue or income

Deferred spending or travel

Financial stress

Stressed or deferred mortgage housing or rental payments

Increased business due to COVID-19

Increase in use of videoconferencing

Other (please specify)

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* 5. In 2021, please select the most important economic development assistance that you or your business would like to see to assist with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Expanded Broadband

Extension to payroll protection program

Clear regulations for conducting business by Local, State or Federal Government

Federal or State Grants to assist with needed infrastructure needs or upgrades

Increased Public Health or Regional Care resources for COVID-19

Assistance with Personal Protection Equipment for employees or essential workers

Additional EDA grant funding

Small Business Loans

Contingency Planning Assistance

Resilience and Recovery Planning Assistance

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

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* 6. Please rate the importance of the following economic industries to the overall health and vibrancy to your County.

	Not Important	Somewhat Important	Important	Critically Important
Agriculture and Ranching	Agriculture and Ranching Not Important	Agriculture and Ranching Somewhat Important	Agriculture and Ranching Important	Agriculture and Ranching Critically Important
Construction and Real Estate	Construction and Real Estate Not Important	Construction and Real Estate Somewhat Important	Construction and Real Estate Important	Construction and Real Estate Critically Important
Finance or Financial Services	Finance or Financial Services Not Important	Finance or Financial Services Somewhat Important	Finance or Financial Services Important	Finance or Financial Services Critically Important
Recreation and Tourism	Recreation and Tourism Not Important	Recreation and Tourism Somewhat Important	Recreation and Tourism Important	Recreation and Tourism Critically Important
Entertainment, Food and Beverage, Leisure, & Hospitality	Entertainment, Food and Beverage, Leisure, & Hospitality Not Important	Entertainment, Food and Beverage, Leisure, & Hospitality Somewhat Important	Entertainment, Food and Beverage, Leisure, & Hospitality Important	Entertainment, Food and Beverage, Leisure, & Hospitality Critically Important
Health Care	Health Care Not Important	Health Care Somewhat Important	Health Care Important	Health Care Critically Important
Mining, oil, gas	Mining, oil, gas Not Important	Mining, oil, gas Somewhat Important	Mining, oil, gas Important	Mining, oil, gas Critically Important
Renewable Energy Production	Renewable Energy Production Not Important	Renewable Energy Production Somewhat Important	Renewable Energy Production Important	Renewable Energy Production Critically Important
Transportation and Delivery	Transportation and Delivery Not Important	Transportation and Delivery Somewhat Important	Transportation and Delivery Important	Transportation and Delivery Critically Important
Education	Education Not Important	Education Somewhat Important	Education Important	Education Critically Important
Government Services	Government Services Not Important	Government Services Somewhat Important	Government Services Important	Government Services Critically Important

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* 7. Please rate the importance of each of these different types of physical infrastructure to your County’s economic development.

	Not Important	Somewhat Important	Important	Critically Important
Interstate or State highways	Interstate or State highways Not Important	Interstate or State highways Somewhat Important	Interstate or State highways Important	Interstate or State highways Critically Important
Electric and gas infrastructure	Electric and gas infrastructure Not Important	Electric and gas infrastructure Somewhat Important	Electric and gas infrastructure Important	Electric and gas infrastructure Critically Important
Water and Wastewater infrastructure	Water and Wastewater infrastructure Not Important	Water and Wastewater infrastructure Somewhat Important	Water and Wastewater infrastructure Important	Water and Wastewater infrastructure Critically Important
High-speed Internet connection (e.g., Broad band)	High-speed Internet connection (e.g., Broad band) Not Important	High-speed Internet connection (e.g., Broad band) Somewhat Important	High-speed Internet connection (e.g., Broad band) Important	High-speed Internet connection (e.g., Broad band) Critically Important
Railroads for freight	Railroads for freight Not Important	Railroads for freight Somewhat Important	Railroads for freight Important	Railroads for freight Critically Important
Airports and landing strips	Airports and landing strips Not Important	Airports and landing strips Somewhat Important	Airports and landing strips Important	Airports and landing strips Critically Important
Parks, trails, open space, bike paths, or public lands	Parks, trails, open space, bike paths, or public lands Not Important	Parks, trails, open space, bike paths, or public lands Somewhat Important	Parks, trails, open space, bike paths, or public lands Important	Parks, trails, open space, bike paths, or public lands Critically Important
Local roadway conditions	Local roadway conditions Not Important	Local roadway conditions Somewhat Important	Local roadway conditions Important	Local roadway conditions Critically Important
Public transit	Public transit Not Important	Public transit Somewhat Important	Public transit Important	Public transit Critically Important
Schools, Colleges, or other educational facilities	Schools, Colleges, or other educational facilities Not Important	Schools, Colleges, or other educational facilities Somewhat Important	Schools, Colleges, or other educational facilities Important	Schools, Colleges, or other educational facilities Critically Important

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* 8. Rate the Quality of each of the physical infrastructure for your County.

	High Quality	Meets current needs	Needs Improvement	Critical need for Improvement
Interstate or State highways	Interstate or State highways High Quality	Interstate or State highways Meets current needs	Interstate or State highways Needs Improvement	Interstate or State highways Critical need for Improvement
Electric and gas infrastructure	Electric and gas infrastructure High Quality	Electric and gas infrastructure Meets current needs	Electric and gas infrastructure Needs Improvement	Electric and gas infrastructure Critical need for Improvement
Water and Wastewater infrastructure	Water and Wastewater infrastructure High Quality	Water and Wastewater infrastructure Meets current needs	Water and Wastewater infrastructure Needs Improvement	Water and Wastewater infrastructure Critical need for Improvement
High-speed Internet connection (e.g., Broad band)	High-speed Internet connection (e.g., Broad band) High Quality	High-speed Internet connection (e.g., Broad band) Meets current needs	High-speed Internet connection (e.g., Broad band) Needs Improvement	High-speed Internet connection (e.g., Broad band) Critical need for Improvement
Railroads for freight	Railroads for freight High Quality	Railroads for freight Meets current needs	Railroads for freight Needs Improvement	Railroads for freight Critical need for Improvement
Airports and landing strips	Airports and landing strips High Quality	Airports and landing strips Meets current needs	Airports and landing strips Needs Improvement	Airports and landing strips Critical need for Improvement
Parks, trails, open space, bike paths, or public lands	Parks, trails, open space, bike paths, or public lands High Quality	Parks, trails, open space, bike paths, or public lands Meets current needs	Parks, trails, open space, bike paths, or public lands Needs Improvement	Parks, trails, open space, bike paths, or public lands Critical need for Improvement
Local roadway conditions	Local roadway conditions High Quality	Local roadway conditions Meets current needs	Local roadway conditions Needs Improvement	Local roadway conditions Critical need for Improvement
Public transit	Public transit High Quality	Public transit Meets current needs	Public transit Needs Improvement	Public transit Critical need for Improvement
Schools, Colleges, or other educational facilities	Schools, Colleges, or other educational facilities High Quality	Schools, Colleges, or other educational facilities Meets current needs	Schools, Colleges, or other educational facilities Needs Improvement	Schools, Colleges, or other educational facilities Critical need for Improvement

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* 9. Please rate the need for additional housing unit or efforts to be addressed within your County

	Exceeds current need	Meets current needs	Needs Improvement	Critical need for improvement
Availability of single-family homes	Availability of single-family homes Exceeds current need	Availability of single-family homes Meets current needs	Availability of single-family homes Needs Improvement	Availability of single-family homes Critical need for improvement
Availability of apartment units	Availability of apartment units Exceeds current need	Availability of apartment units Meets current needs	Availability of apartment units Needs Improvement	Availability of apartment units Critical need for improvement
Number of buildable lots	Number of buildable lots Exceeds current need	Number of buildable lots Meets current needs	Number of buildable lots Needs Improvement	Number of buildable lots Critical need for improvement
Availability of construction/builder professionals	Availability of construction/builder professionals Exceeds current need	Availability of construction/builder professionals Meets current needs	Availability of construction/builder professionals Needs Improvement	Availability of construction/builder professionals Critical need for improvement
Nursing or senior housing	Nursing or senior housing Exceeds current need	Nursing or senior housing Meets current needs	Nursing or senior housing Needs Improvement	Nursing or senior housing Critical need for improvement
Assisted living units	Assisted living units Exceeds current need	Assisted living units Meets current needs	Assisted living units Needs Improvement	Assisted living units Critical need for improvement
Transitional Housing	Transitional Housing Exceeds current need	Transitional Housing Meets current needs	Transitional Housing Needs Improvement	Transitional Housing Critical need for improvement
Affordability of Homes	Affordability of Homes Exceeds current need	Affordability of Homes Meets current needs	Affordability of Homes Needs Improvement	Affordability of Homes Critical need for improvement
Affordability of Rentals	Affordability of Rentals Exceeds current need	Affordability of Rentals Meets current needs	Affordability of Rentals Needs Improvement	Affordability of Rentals Critical need for improvement
Land use policies or building codes	Land use policies or building codes Exceeds current need	Land use policies or building codes Meets current needs	Land use policies or building codes Needs Improvement	Land use policies or building codes Critical need for improvement
Additional low income housing	Additional low income housing Exceeds current need	Additional low income housing Meets current needs	Additional low income housing Needs Improvement	Additional low income housing Critical need for improvement

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* 10. Please rate the importance of Work Force Development for your County.

	Completely Disagree	Disagree	Agree	Completely Agree
Too many high school students "opt out," drop out, or graduate without real abilities	Too many high school students "opt out," drop out, or graduate without real abilities Completely Disagree	Too many high school students "opt out," drop out, or graduate without real abilities Disagree	Too many high school students "opt out," drop out, or graduate without real abilities Agree	Too many high school students "opt out," drop out, or graduate without real abilities Completely Agree
Too few workers with two-year degrees or certificates	Too few workers with two-year degrees or certificates Completely Disagree	Too few workers with two-year degrees or certificates Disagree	Too few workers with two-year degrees or certificates Agree	Too few workers with two-year degrees or certificates Completely Agree
Too few graduates from four-year colleges & universities	Too few graduates from four-year colleges & universities Completely Disagree	Too few graduates from four-year colleges & universities Disagree	Too few graduates from four-year colleges & universities Agree	Too few graduates from four-year colleges & universities Completely Agree
Too many potential employees lack "soft skills" and good work attitudes	Too many potential employees lack "soft skills" and good work attitudes Completely Disagree	Too many potential employees lack "soft skills" and good work attitudes Disagree	Too many potential employees lack "soft skills" and good work attitudes Agree	Too many potential employees lack "soft skills" and good work attitudes Completely Agree
Local leaders without an understanding of economic development	Local leaders without an understanding of economic development Completely Disagree	Local leaders without an understanding of economic development Disagree	Local leaders without an understanding of economic development Agree	Local leaders without an understanding of economic development Completely Agree
Additional local elected official training so officials do not have to learn on the job	Additional local elected official training so officials do not have to learn on the job Completely Disagree	Additional local elected official training so officials do not have to learn on the job Disagree	Additional local elected official training so officials do not have to learn on the job Agree	Additional local elected official training so officials do not have to learn on the job Completely Agree
Too many of our best graduates can only find good careers outside the region	Too many of our best graduates can only find good careers outside the region Completely Disagree	Too many of our best graduates can only find good careers outside the region Disagree	Too many of our best graduates can only find good careers outside the region Agree	Too many of our best graduates can only find good careers outside the region Completely Agree
Too little employer-college interaction to make sure the curriculum addresses what is needed	Too little employer-college interaction to make sure the curriculum addresses what is needed Completely Disagree	Too little employer-college interaction to make sure the curriculum addresses what is needed Disagree	Too little employer-college interaction to make sure the curriculum addresses what is needed Agree	Too little employer-college interaction to make sure the curriculum addresses what is needed Completely Agree
Workforce Housing	Workforce Housing Completely Disagree	Workforce Housing Disagree	Workforce Housing Agree	Workforce Housing Completely Agree

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* 11. Please rate how the following natural disasters are likely to impact your County.

	Not Likely/No Impact	Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Likely/Large Impacts	Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Drought	Drought Not Likely/No Impact	Drought Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Drought Likely/Large Impacts	Drought Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Flood	Flood Not Likely/No Impact	Flood Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Flood Likely/Large Impacts	Flood Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Wildfire	Wildfire Not Likely/No Impact	Wildfire Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Wildfire Likely/Large Impacts	Wildfire Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Pandemics	Pandemics Not Likely/No Impact	Pandemics Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Pandemics Likely/Large Impacts	Pandemics Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Power or gas outrage	Power or gas outrage Not Likely/No Impact	Power or gas outrage Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Power or gas outrage Likely/Large Impacts	Power or gas outrage Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Earthquake	Earthquake Not Likely/No Impact	Earthquake Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Earthquake Likely/Large Impacts	Earthquake Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Problem Soils	Problem Soils Not Likely/No Impact	Problem Soils Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Problem Soils Likely/Large Impacts	Problem Soils Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Infestation	Infestation Not Likely/No Impact	Infestation Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Infestation Likely/Large Impacts	Infestation Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Severe Weather	Severe Weather Not Likely/No Impact	Severe Weather Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Severe Weather Likely/Large Impacts	Severe Weather Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Toxic Transport Spill	Toxic Transport Spill Not Likely/No Impact	Toxic Transport Spill Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Toxic Transport Spill Likely/Large Impacts	Toxic Transport Spill Very Likely/Critically Important to Address
Landslides	Landslides Not Likely/No Impact	Landslides Somewhat Likely/ Minor Impacts	Landslides Likely/Large Impacts	Landslides Very Likely/Critically Important to Address

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* 12. Due to limited funding, it is extremely important to understand what are the highest economic/community development priorities for your community/county over the next three to five years? Please choose your top 5.

Access to high speed and reliable Broadband internet connections

Upgrades to education facilities

Increased access to Affordable owner-occupied and rental housing

Upgrades to transportation infrastructure

Workforce Development

Diversification of the local economy

Increase the number of highly skilled, high paying jobs

Increasing access to debt and equity financing for small businesses

Attracting new business

Improving Access to quality Health Care

Investment in renewable energy

Quality of life enhancements (i.e. recreation, arts, entertainment, things to do)

Transportation infrastructure

Public Transportation

Reestablishing Downtown Business Districts (or revitalizing downtown districts)

General Populace Access to and Education of State of the Art Technology

Increased ability of local governmental units to access state, federal, and foundation grant funding

Increased mining, gas, or oil exploration

Other (please specify)

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* 13. What do you see as the biggest economic challenge in your County?

Housing

Lack of Resources for Business Start-up

Broadband

Transportation

Transmission Lines

Healthcare

Government Regulation

Workforce

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Southern Colorado Economic Development District (SCEDD) is considering how to define its efforts to live out its mission to help make southern Colorado prosper. To help us consider our future role, could you please rate the following roles we are considering?

	Not Important	Somewhat Important	Important	Critically Important
Technical assistance to local governments to achieve economic development goals	Technical assistance to local governments to achieve economic development goals Not Important	Technical assistance to local governments to achieve economic development goals Somewhat Important	Technical assistance to local governments to achieve economic development goals Important	Technical assistance to local governments to achieve economic development goals Critically Important
Robust economic planning that can be used by organizations and stakeholders to focus their efforts	Robust economic planning that can be used by organizations and stakeholders to focus their efforts Not Important	Robust economic planning that can be used by organizations and stakeholders to focus their efforts Somewhat Important	Robust economic planning that can be used by organizations and stakeholders to focus their efforts Important	Robust economic planning that can be used by organizations and stakeholders to focus their efforts Critically Important
Promoting a regional approach to economic development	Promoting a regional approach to economic development Not Important	Promoting a regional approach to economic development Somewhat Important	Promoting a regional approach to economic development Important	Promoting a regional approach to economic development Critically Important
Encouraging collaboration among economic development organizations and stakeholders	Encouraging collaboration among economic development organizations and stakeholders Not Important	Encouraging collaboration among economic development organizations and stakeholders Somewhat Important	Encouraging collaboration among economic development organizations and stakeholders Important	Encouraging collaboration among economic development organizations and stakeholders Critically Important
Increasing access to state, federal, and foundation grants through grant writing and training grant writers	Increasing access to state, federal, and foundation grants through grant writing and training grant writers Not Important	Increasing access to state, federal, and foundation grants through grant writing and training grant writers Somewhat Important	Increasing access to state, federal, and foundation grants through grant writing and training grant writers Important	Increasing access to state, federal, and foundation grants through grant writing and training grant writers Critically Important
Increasing access to debt and equity capital for businesses by filling unserved areas and partnering with existing business finance organizations	Increasing access to debt and equity capital for businesses by filling unserved areas and partnering with existing business finance organizations Not Important	Increasing access to debt and equity capital for businesses by filling unserved areas and partnering with existing business finance organizations Somewhat Important	Increasing access to debt and equity capital for businesses by filling unserved areas and partnering with existing business finance organizations Important	Increasing access to debt and equity capital for businesses by filling unserved areas and partnering with existing business finance organizations Critically Important
Partnering with non-profit housing developers to increase affordable owner occupied and rental housing stock in the region	Partnering with non-profit housing developers to increase affordable owner occupied and rental housing stock in the region Not Important	Partnering with non-profit housing developers to increase affordable owner occupied and rental housing stock in the region Somewhat Important	Partnering with non-profit housing developers to increase affordable owner occupied and rental housing stock in the region Important	Partnering with non-profit housing developers to increase affordable owner occupied and rental housing stock in the region Critically Important
Exercising leadership to promote reliable broadband access to the region	Exercising leadership to promote reliable broadband access to the region Not Important	Exercising leadership to promote reliable broadband access to the region Somewhat Important	Exercising leadership to promote reliable broadband access to the region Important	Exercising leadership to promote reliable broadband access to the region Critically Important
Assisting in efforts to improve the quality of life in the region through assisting in development of entertainment and recreational amenities	Assisting in efforts to improve the quality of life in the region through assisting in development of entertainment and recreational amenities Not Important	Assisting in efforts to improve the quality of life in the region through assisting in development of entertainment and recreational amenities Somewhat Important	Assisting in efforts to improve the quality of life in the region through assisting in development of entertainment and recreational amenities Important	Assisting in efforts to improve the quality of life in the region through assisting in development of entertainment and recreational amenities Critically Important

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* 15. Five years from now, your County’s economy will decline, stay the same, or improve?

Improve

Stay the same

Decline

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* 16. Are there other issues you would like SCEDD to address or other comments you would like to make? If you would like to receive future updates from SCEDD and be entered into the $50 restaurant gift card drawing, please provide your name and email here.