Walker County SWOT Survey

The purpose of this survey is to gain insights and perspective's from Walker County stakeholders regarding the county's economic strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT). The information gained through this survey will inform the Economic Development Strategy Plan (EDSP), which is being created to guide and support the county's future growth and development efforts.

If you have any questions regarding this survey or the EDSP process, please contact Allie Haynes, Economic Development Specialist, at ahaynes@rpcgb.org.

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* 1. What position/organization are you affiliated with in Walker County?

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* 2. In your opinion, what are the county's top three competitive strengths, or assets? Choose up to three.

Geographic Location

Business Environment

Cost of Living

Access to higher education opportunities

Workforce/Talent

Business Sites/Real Estate

Focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

Lifestyle/Quality of Life

Natural Environment (Outdoor recreational assets, etc.)

Transportation Infrastructure

Entrepreneurial Engagement/Support

Career Opportunities/Trajectories

Government/Political Leadership

K-12 Schools

Other (please specify)

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* 3. In your opinion, what are the county's top three weaknesses, or constraints? Choose up to three.

Geographic Location

Business Environment

Cost of Living

Access to higher education opportunities

Workforce/Talent Retention

Business Sites/Real Estate

Limited/Lack of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives

Lifestyle/Quality of Life

Natural Environment Limitations (Outdoor recreational assets, etc.)

Transportation Infrastructure Conditions

Limited Entrepreneurial Engagement/Support

Limited Career Opportunities/Trajectories

Government/Political Leadership

K-12 Schools

Other (please specify)

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* 4. How would you rate the county's economic performance/growth over the last 5 years?

Poor/Sluggish

Subpar

Neutral/Average

Good

Excellent

Not sure

Poor/Sluggish

Subpar

Neutral/Average

Good

Excellent

Not sure

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* 5. To me, successful development in Walker County means: (choose up to three answers)

Recruiting/Expanding new industry

Supporting existing business retention and expansion

Starting and growing new startup companies

Improving/Increasing educational assets

Supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for workforce/talent attraction and retention

Improving quality of life/lifestyle amenities

Increasing tourism opportunities and focus areas

Recruiting/Expanding new retail opportunities

Reducing the gaps between industry needs and workforce skills

Other (please specify)

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* 6. How well does the county meet your expectations in the following economic and market areas:

	Very Unsatisfied	Unsatisfied	Average	Satisfied	Very Satisfied	Not sure
Future Economic Growth Potential	Future Economic Growth Potential Very Unsatisfied	Future Economic Growth Potential Unsatisfied	Future Economic Growth Potential Average	Future Economic Growth Potential Satisfied	Future Economic Growth Potential Very Satisfied	Future Economic Growth Potential Not sure
Arts and Culture	Arts and Culture Very Unsatisfied	Arts and Culture Unsatisfied	Arts and Culture Average	Arts and Culture Satisfied	Arts and Culture Very Satisfied	Arts and Culture Not sure
Cost of Living	Cost of Living Very Unsatisfied	Cost of Living Unsatisfied	Cost of Living Average	Cost of Living Satisfied	Cost of Living Very Satisfied	Cost of Living Not sure
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiatives	Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiatives Very Unsatisfied	Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiatives Unsatisfied	Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiatives Average	Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiatives Satisfied	Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiatives Very Satisfied	Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiatives Not sure
Local and Regional Leadership	Local and Regional Leadership Very Unsatisfied	Local and Regional Leadership Unsatisfied	Local and Regional Leadership Average	Local and Regional Leadership Satisfied	Local and Regional Leadership Very Satisfied	Local and Regional Leadership Not sure
Economic Diversity	Economic Diversity Very Unsatisfied	Economic Diversity Unsatisfied	Economic Diversity Average	Economic Diversity Satisfied	Economic Diversity Very Satisfied	Economic Diversity Not sure
Image as a Business Destination	Image as a Business Destination Very Unsatisfied	Image as a Business Destination Unsatisfied	Image as a Business Destination Average	Image as a Business Destination Satisfied	Image as a Business Destination Very Satisfied	Image as a Business Destination Not sure
Image as Tourist Destination	Image as Tourist Destination Very Unsatisfied	Image as Tourist Destination Unsatisfied	Image as Tourist Destination Average	Image as Tourist Destination Satisfied	Image as Tourist Destination Very Satisfied	Image as Tourist Destination Not sure
Appeal to Young Professionals	Appeal to Young Professionals Very Unsatisfied	Appeal to Young Professionals Unsatisfied	Appeal to Young Professionals Average	Appeal to Young Professionals Satisfied	Appeal to Young Professionals Very Satisfied	Appeal to Young Professionals Not sure
Small Business Resources/Support	Small Business Resources/Support Very Unsatisfied	Small Business Resources/Support Unsatisfied	Small Business Resources/Support Average	Small Business Resources/Support Satisfied	Small Business Resources/Support Very Satisfied	Small Business Resources/Support Not sure
Entrepreneurial Support	Entrepreneurial Support Very Unsatisfied	Entrepreneurial Support Unsatisfied	Entrepreneurial Support Average	Entrepreneurial Support Satisfied	Entrepreneurial Support Very Satisfied	Entrepreneurial Support Not sure
Job Availability	Job Availability Very Unsatisfied	Job Availability Unsatisfied	Job Availability Average	Job Availability Satisfied	Job Availability Very Satisfied	Job Availability Not sure
Wage Levels	Wage Levels Very Unsatisfied	Wage Levels Unsatisfied	Wage Levels Average	Wage Levels Satisfied	Wage Levels Very Satisfied	Wage Levels Not sure
Access to Career Advancement Opportunities	Access to Career Advancement Opportunities Very Unsatisfied	Access to Career Advancement Opportunities Unsatisfied	Access to Career Advancement Opportunities Average	Access to Career Advancement Opportunities Satisfied	Access to Career Advancement Opportunities Very Satisfied	Access to Career Advancement Opportunities Not sure
Access to Training/Skills Building Programs	Access to Training/Skills Building Programs Very Unsatisfied	Access to Training/Skills Building Programs Unsatisfied	Access to Training/Skills Building Programs Average	Access to Training/Skills Building Programs Satisfied	Access to Training/Skills Building Programs Very Satisfied	Access to Training/Skills Building Programs Not sure
Apprenticeship Availability	Apprenticeship Availability Very Unsatisfied	Apprenticeship Availability Unsatisfied	Apprenticeship Availability Average	Apprenticeship Availability Satisfied	Apprenticeship Availability Very Satisfied	Apprenticeship Availability Not sure
Broadband Access	Broadband Access Very Unsatisfied	Broadband Access Unsatisfied	Broadband Access Average	Broadband Access Satisfied	Broadband Access Very Satisfied	Broadband Access Not sure
Water and Sewer Infrastructure Conditions	Water and Sewer Infrastructure Conditions Very Unsatisfied	Water and Sewer Infrastructure Conditions Unsatisfied	Water and Sewer Infrastructure Conditions Average	Water and Sewer Infrastructure Conditions Satisfied	Water and Sewer Infrastructure Conditions Very Satisfied	Water and Sewer Infrastructure Conditions Not sure
Housing Accessibility and Affordability	Housing Accessibility and Affordability Very Unsatisfied	Housing Accessibility and Affordability Unsatisfied	Housing Accessibility and Affordability Average	Housing Accessibility and Affordability Satisfied	Housing Accessibility and Affordability Very Satisfied	Housing Accessibility and Affordability Not sure
Public Transportation Accessibility and Utility	Public Transportation Accessibility and Utility Very Unsatisfied	Public Transportation Accessibility and Utility Unsatisfied	Public Transportation Accessibility and Utility Average	Public Transportation Accessibility and Utility Satisfied	Public Transportation Accessibility and Utility Very Satisfied	Public Transportation Accessibility and Utility Not sure
Road/Highway System Conditions	Road/Highway System Conditions Very Unsatisfied	Road/Highway System Conditions Unsatisfied	Road/Highway System Conditions Average	Road/Highway System Conditions Satisfied	Road/Highway System Conditions Very Satisfied	Road/Highway System Conditions Not sure
Commute Times to work and school	Commute Times to work and school Very Unsatisfied	Commute Times to work and school Unsatisfied	Commute Times to work and school Average	Commute Times to work and school Satisfied	Commute Times to work and school Very Satisfied	Commute Times to work and school Not sure
Pedestrian/Bicycle Routes	Pedestrian/Bicycle Routes Very Unsatisfied	Pedestrian/Bicycle Routes Unsatisfied	Pedestrian/Bicycle Routes Average	Pedestrian/Bicycle Routes Satisfied	Pedestrian/Bicycle Routes Very Satisfied	Pedestrian/Bicycle Routes Not sure

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* 7. What opportunities do you believe exist or are developing within the county? This may speak to current or potential business and industry initiatives, or aspects regarding the quality of life in the county.

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* 8. In your opinion, where is the county lacking in development when compared to other counties nearby?

Retail

Employment/Job opportunities

Quantity and variety of residential areas

Recreation opportunities

Community spaces

Quality healthcare

Quality and variety of educational opportunities

Grocery/General Merchandise Stores

Infrastructure (Internet access, cell service, water/sewer capacity, roads, etc.)

Not sure

Other (please specify)

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* 9. In your opinion, what are the top three infrastructure development issues facing the county?

Broadband Access

Water and Sewer Infrastructure

Housing Affordability

Road/Highway System Conditions

Pedestrian/Bicycle Routes

Other recreation (trails, rec centers, etc.)

Not sure

Other (please specify)

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* 10. In your opinion, what are the top three most important project areas necessary to improve/enhance the county's economic development in the next 3-5 years? (Choose up to three)

Provide more small business support

Improve public transportation

Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives

Focus on programs to recruit/attract businesses

Focus on programs to attract/retain talent/workers

Create career pipelines focused on retaining graduates from regional institutions

Collaborate more effectively on a county level

Improve critical infrastructure (roads, water/sewer systems, broadband)

Improving outdoor recreation initiatives

Not sure

Other (please specify)

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* 11. What visionary news headlines would you like to see written about Walker County over the next 10 years?

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* 12. Economic resiliency refers to the ability of a local economy to avoid, withstand, or quickly recover from the negative impacts of an economic shock. Given this definition, how would you rate the current economic resilience of the county as a whole?

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* 13. Regional Economic Resiliency Threats:

Please rank the following list of economic resiliency threats from largest to least threatening to the county, with 1 being the largest threat and 10 being the smallest threat.

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* 14. How well does the county meet your expectations in the following Quality of Life areas:

	Very Unsatisfied	Unsatisfied	Average	Satisfied	Very Satisfied	Not sure
Arts/culture facilities and programs	Arts/culture facilities and programs Very Unsatisfied	Arts/culture facilities and programs Unsatisfied	Arts/culture facilities and programs Average	Arts/culture facilities and programs Satisfied	Arts/culture facilities and programs Very Satisfied	Arts/culture facilities and programs Not sure
Diversity and inclusiveness	Diversity and inclusiveness Very Unsatisfied	Diversity and inclusiveness Unsatisfied	Diversity and inclusiveness Average	Diversity and inclusiveness Satisfied	Diversity and inclusiveness Very Satisfied	Diversity and inclusiveness Not sure
Entertainment, nightlife, and dining options	Entertainment, nightlife, and dining options Very Unsatisfied	Entertainment, nightlife, and dining options Unsatisfied	Entertainment, nightlife, and dining options Average	Entertainment, nightlife, and dining options Satisfied	Entertainment, nightlife, and dining options Very Satisfied	Entertainment, nightlife, and dining options Not sure
Environment and sustainability programs	Environment and sustainability programs Very Unsatisfied	Environment and sustainability programs Unsatisfied	Environment and sustainability programs Average	Environment and sustainability programs Satisfied	Environment and sustainability programs Very Satisfied	Environment and sustainability programs Not sure
Family and child-friendly options	Family and child-friendly options Very Unsatisfied	Family and child-friendly options Unsatisfied	Family and child-friendly options Average	Family and child-friendly options Satisfied	Family and child-friendly options Very Satisfied	Family and child-friendly options Not sure
Human/social services affordability and availability	Human/social services affordability and availability Very Unsatisfied	Human/social services affordability and availability Unsatisfied	Human/social services affordability and availability Average	Human/social services affordability and availability Satisfied	Human/social services affordability and availability Very Satisfied	Human/social services affordability and availability Not sure
Outdoor recreation opportunities & parks	Outdoor recreation opportunities & parks Very Unsatisfied	Outdoor recreation opportunities & parks Unsatisfied	Outdoor recreation opportunities & parks Average	Outdoor recreation opportunities & parks Satisfied	Outdoor recreation opportunities & parks Very Satisfied	Outdoor recreation opportunities & parks Not sure
Philanthropic and community development activity	Philanthropic and community development activity Very Unsatisfied	Philanthropic and community development activity Unsatisfied	Philanthropic and community development activity Average	Philanthropic and community development activity Satisfied	Philanthropic and community development activity Very Satisfied	Philanthropic and community development activity Not sure
Retail and shopping destinations	Retail and shopping destinations Very Unsatisfied	Retail and shopping destinations Unsatisfied	Retail and shopping destinations Average	Retail and shopping destinations Satisfied	Retail and shopping destinations Very Satisfied	Retail and shopping destinations Not sure
Sense of personal and property safety	Sense of personal and property safety Very Unsatisfied	Sense of personal and property safety Unsatisfied	Sense of personal and property safety Average	Sense of personal and property safety Satisfied	Sense of personal and property safety Very Satisfied	Sense of personal and property safety Not sure
Sense of community, connectedness, and civic participation	Sense of community, connectedness, and civic participation Very Unsatisfied	Sense of community, connectedness, and civic participation Unsatisfied	Sense of community, connectedness, and civic participation Average	Sense of community, connectedness, and civic participation Satisfied	Sense of community, connectedness, and civic participation Very Satisfied	Sense of community, connectedness, and civic participation Not sure
Housing affordability	Housing affordability Very Unsatisfied	Housing affordability Unsatisfied	Housing affordability Average	Housing affordability Satisfied	Housing affordability Very Satisfied	Housing affordability Not sure
K-12 school system quality	K-12 school system quality Very Unsatisfied	K-12 school system quality Unsatisfied	K-12 school system quality Average	K-12 school system quality Satisfied	K-12 school system quality Very Satisfied	K-12 school system quality Not sure
Access to educational opportunities	Access to educational opportunities Very Unsatisfied	Access to educational opportunities Unsatisfied	Access to educational opportunities Average	Access to educational opportunities Satisfied	Access to educational opportunities Very Satisfied	Access to educational opportunities Not sure

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* 15. Select the top five areas you believe should be included as development priorities in the Economic Development Strategy Plan (EDSP) for the county:

Growing existing, local companies

Recruiting external business expansion

Diversifying the local industry base (decrease dependence on a major employer/industry)

Attracting new workers and residents

Retaining and developing current workforce

Emphasizing sustainability in growth initiatives

Reducing gaps between industry needs and workforce skills; enhancing coordination between businesses and workforce training opportunities

Improving cooperation and collaboration among public entities at a county and regional level

Critical infrastructure improvements

Brownfields/blight redevelopment and reuse

Increasing recreational and community activities/spaces

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Please evaluate the following outdoor recreational opportunities for Walker County by ranking them from most to least favorable, with the top being the most favorable and the bottom being the least.

*Note: When ranking, please consider the county's natural features that support each activity, the existing local interest and potential demand, each activity’s potential to draw visitors to Walker County, and any current unmet needs in the local area.

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* 17. Are there additional outdoor recreation opportunities that you believe should be considered for development in Walker County? Please share your suggestions below, and explain why you think they would be a valuable addition to our community's outdoor offerings.

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* 18. Considering Walker County's unique environment and community needs, are there any outdoor recreation opportunities listed that you feel should not be pursued or prioritized? Please explain why.

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* 19. Did we miss anything? Please include any other comments you have about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and/or threats to the county's economy and development not covered in this survey.

Walker County SWOT Survey

Question Title

* 1. What position/organization are you affiliated with in Walker County?

Question Title

* 2. In your opinion, what are the county's top three competitive strengths, or assets? Choose up to three.

Question Title

* 3. In your opinion, what are the county's top three weaknesses, or constraints? Choose up to three.

Question Title

* 4. How would you rate the county's economic performance/growth over the last 5 years?

Question Title

* 5. To me, successful development in Walker County means: (choose up to three answers)

Question Title

* 6. How well does the county meet your expectations in the following economic and market areas:

Question Title

* 7. What opportunities do you believe exist or are developing within the county? This may speak to current or potential business and industry initiatives, or aspects regarding the quality of life in the county.

Question Title

* 8. In your opinion, where is the county lacking in development when compared to other counties nearby?

Question Title

* 9. In your opinion, what are the top three infrastructure development issues facing the county?

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* 10. In your opinion, what are the top three most important project areas necessary to improve/enhance the county's economic development in the next 3-5 years? (Choose up to three)

Question Title

* 11. What visionary news headlines would you like to see written about Walker County over the next 10 years?

Question Title

* 12. Economic resiliency refers to the ability of a local economy to avoid, withstand, or quickly recover from the negative impacts of an economic shock. Given this definition, how would you rate the current economic resilience of the county as a whole?

Question Title

* 13. Regional Economic Resiliency Threats:Please rank the following list of economic resiliency threats from largest to least threatening to the county, with 1 being the largest threat and 10 being the smallest threat.

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* 14. How well does the county meet your expectations in the following Quality of Life areas:

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* 15. Select the top five areas you believe should be included as development priorities in the Economic Development Strategy Plan (EDSP) for the county:

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* 17. Are there additional outdoor recreation opportunities that you believe should be considered for development in Walker County? Please share your suggestions below, and explain why you think they would be a valuable addition to our community's outdoor offerings.

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* 18. Considering Walker County's unique environment and community needs, are there any outdoor recreation opportunities listed that you feel should not be pursued or prioritized? Please explain why.

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* 19. Did we miss anything? Please include any other comments you have about the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and/or threats to the county's economy and development not covered in this survey.

* 13. Regional Economic Resiliency Threats:

Please rank the following list of economic resiliency threats from largest to least threatening to the county, with 1 being the largest threat and 10 being the smallest threat.