Help Shape the Future of the Santa Maria Valley The Santa Maria Valley Chamber will be updating their strategic plan for 2024 - 2027. Your input will have a direct impact on the programs and initiatives we prioritize in the coming years. We appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey. A Spanish version of this survey is available here. Question Title * 1. From your perspective what are the top 3 issues facing the community that the Chamber, Visitors Bureau or Economic Development Commission are well suited to address? 1. 2. 3. Question Title * 2. Which one of these is impacting you most significantly? (Or is most critical) In 2020 the Santa Maria Chamber, Visitors Bureau, and Economic Development Commission developed four strategic focus areas with specific initiatives contained within each area. In questions 3-6, please rank your awareness of these focus area initiatives: Question Title * 3. Community Attractors: Enhance the attractiveness of Santa Maria Valley as a place to live, play and work Unaware Some knowledge Very aware and/or involved Downtown redevelopment projects, including housing and retail Downtown redevelopment projects, including housing and retail Unaware Downtown redevelopment projects, including housing and retail Some knowledge Downtown redevelopment projects, including housing and retail Very aware and/or involved Tourism marketing campaigns positioning the Santa Maria Valley as a value destination on the Central Coast Tourism marketing campaigns positioning the Santa Maria Valley as a value destination on the Central Coast Unaware Tourism marketing campaigns positioning the Santa Maria Valley as a value destination on the Central Coast Some knowledge Tourism marketing campaigns positioning the Santa Maria Valley as a value destination on the Central Coast Very aware and/or involved Spotlighting local businesses through communications platforms and partnerships with the Santa Maria Times and the Santa Maria City Council Spotlighting local businesses through communications platforms and partnerships with the Santa Maria Times and the Santa Maria City Council Unaware Spotlighting local businesses through communications platforms and partnerships with the Santa Maria Times and the Santa Maria City Council Some knowledge Spotlighting local businesses through communications platforms and partnerships with the Santa Maria Times and the Santa Maria City Council Very aware and/or involved Question Title * 4. Strong local workforce: Aligning education and training with business needs Unaware Some knowledge Very aware and/or involved Junior CEO Junior CEO Unaware Junior CEO Some knowledge Junior CEO Very aware and/or involved Partnerships with the school system to connect students and businesses through internships and guest speaker programs Partnerships with the school system to connect students and businesses through internships and guest speaker programs Unaware Partnerships with the school system to connect students and businesses through internships and guest speaker programs Some knowledge Partnerships with the school system to connect students and businesses through internships and guest speaker programs Very aware and/or involved Leadership Santa Maria Valley Leadership Santa Maria Valley Unaware Leadership Santa Maria Valley Some knowledge Leadership Santa Maria Valley Very aware and/or involved Question Title * 5. Engaged Leadership: Ensure community leaders are informed, engaged, and consider the impact to business of community decisions. Unaware Some knowledge Very aware and/or involved Monthly Business/Government Roundtable Monthly Business/Government Roundtable Unaware Monthly Business/Government Roundtable Some knowledge Monthly Business/Government Roundtable Very aware and/or involved Community update events (State of the City, State of Vandenberg, etc.) Community update events (State of the City, State of Vandenberg, etc.) Unaware Community update events (State of the City, State of Vandenberg, etc.) Some knowledge Community update events (State of the City, State of Vandenberg, etc.) Very aware and/or involved Weekly e-blasts, monthly newsletter, and quarterly magazine to highlight and inform decision-makers and the community Weekly e-blasts, monthly newsletter, and quarterly magazine to highlight and inform decision-makers and the community Unaware Weekly e-blasts, monthly newsletter, and quarterly magazine to highlight and inform decision-makers and the community Some knowledge Weekly e-blasts, monthly newsletter, and quarterly magazine to highlight and inform decision-makers and the community Very aware and/or involved Regional Partnerships (REACH Central Coast, Tri-County Chamber Alliance) to maximize our voice in economic and legislative efforts Regional Partnerships (REACH Central Coast, Tri-County Chamber Alliance) to maximize our voice in economic and legislative efforts Unaware Regional Partnerships (REACH Central Coast, Tri-County Chamber Alliance) to maximize our voice in economic and legislative efforts Some knowledge Regional Partnerships (REACH Central Coast, Tri-County Chamber Alliance) to maximize our voice in economic and legislative efforts Very aware and/or involved Question Title * 6. Increasing Business Activity: Support growth in economic activity Unaware Some knowledge Very aware and/or involved Marketing and networking opportunities for local businesses Marketing and networking opportunities for local businesses Unaware Marketing and networking opportunities for local businesses Some knowledge Marketing and networking opportunities for local businesses Very aware and/or involved Business support and resources Business support and resources Unaware Business support and resources Some knowledge Business support and resources Very aware and/or involved Hispanic Business Committee Hispanic Business Committee Unaware Hispanic Business Committee Some knowledge Hispanic Business Committee Very aware and/or involved Reviewing the same list, please now provide feedback on whether we should continue each initiative. Question Title * 7. Community Attractors: Enhance the attractiveness of Santa Maria Valley as a place to live, play and work Do not continue Continue Uncertain Downtown redevelopment projects, including housing and retail Downtown redevelopment projects, including housing and retail Do not continue Downtown redevelopment projects, including housing and retail Continue Downtown redevelopment projects, including housing and retail Uncertain Tourism marketing campaigns positioning the Santa Maria Valley as a value destination on the Central Coast Tourism marketing campaigns positioning the Santa Maria Valley as a value destination on the Central Coast Do not continue Tourism marketing campaigns positioning the Santa Maria Valley as a value destination on the Central Coast Continue Tourism marketing campaigns positioning the Santa Maria Valley as a value destination on the Central Coast Uncertain Spotlighting local businesses through communications platforms and partnerships with the Santa Maria Times and the Santa Maria City Council Spotlighting local businesses through communications platforms and partnerships with the Santa Maria Times and the Santa Maria City Council Do not continue Spotlighting local businesses through communications platforms and partnerships with the Santa Maria Times and the Santa Maria City Council Continue Spotlighting local businesses through communications platforms and partnerships with the Santa Maria Times and the Santa Maria City Council Uncertain Anything else you’d like to see the Chamber doing to enhance the Santa Maria Valley as a place to live, work and play? Question Title * 8. Strong local workforce: Aligning education and training with business needs Do not continue Continue Uncertain Junior CEO Junior CEO Do not continue Junior CEO Continue Junior CEO Uncertain Partnerships with the school system to connect students and businesses through internships and guest speaker programs Partnerships with the school system to connect students and businesses through internships and guest speaker programs Do not continue Partnerships with the school system to connect students and businesses through internships and guest speaker programs Continue Partnerships with the school system to connect students and businesses through internships and guest speaker programs Uncertain Leadership Santa Maria Valley Leadership Santa Maria Valley Do not continue Leadership Santa Maria Valley Continue Leadership Santa Maria Valley Uncertain Anything else you’d like to see the Chamber doing to improve local workforce? Question Title * 9. Engaged Leadership: Ensure community leaders are informed, engaged, and consider the impact to business of community decisions. Do not continue Continue Uncertain Monthly Business/Government Roundtable Monthly Business/Government Roundtable Do not continue Monthly Business/Government Roundtable Continue Monthly Business/Government Roundtable Uncertain Community update events (State of the City, State of Vandenberg, etc.) Community update events (State of the City, State of Vandenberg, etc.) Do not continue Community update events (State of the City, State of Vandenberg, etc.) Continue Community update events (State of the City, State of Vandenberg, etc.) Uncertain Weekly e-blasts, monthly newsletter, and quarterly magazine to highlight and inform decision-makers and the community Weekly e-blasts, monthly newsletter, and quarterly magazine to highlight and inform decision-makers and the community Do not continue Weekly e-blasts, monthly newsletter, and quarterly magazine to highlight and inform decision-makers and the community Continue Weekly e-blasts, monthly newsletter, and quarterly magazine to highlight and inform decision-makers and the community Uncertain Regional Partnerships (REACH Central Coast, Tri-County Chamber Alliance) to maximize our voice in economic and legislative efforts Regional Partnerships (REACH Central Coast, Tri-County Chamber Alliance) to maximize our voice in economic and legislative efforts Do not continue Regional Partnerships (REACH Central Coast, Tri-County Chamber Alliance) to maximize our voice in economic and legislative efforts Continue Regional Partnerships (REACH Central Coast, Tri-County Chamber Alliance) to maximize our voice in economic and legislative efforts Uncertain Anything else you’d like to see the Chamber doing to further engage community leaders? Question Title * 10. Increasing Business Activity: Support growth in economic activity Do not continue Continue Uncertain Marketing and networking opportunities for local businesses Marketing and networking opportunities for local businesses Do not continue Marketing and networking opportunities for local businesses Continue Marketing and networking opportunities for local businesses Uncertain Business support and resources Business support and resources Do not continue Business support and resources Continue Business support and resources Uncertain Hispanic Business Committee Hispanic Business Committee Do not continue Hispanic Business Committee Continue Hispanic Business Committee Uncertain Anything else you’d like to see the Chamber doing to strengthen the local economy? Question Title * 11. In addition to the four areas we’ve just discussed, do you have suggestions for other focus areas where the Chamber should be a leader as a catalyst, convener, or champion? Question Title * 12. Any other suggestions, insights or comments you would like to include? Done