Funding needs of farm and food businesses Survey

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* 2. How long has this business been operating?

Just starting up

Less than 5 years

5 to 10 years

10 to 20 years

More than 20 years

Don't know

Other (please specify)

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* 3. Is this business your main source of income?

Yes

Don't know

Other (please specify)

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* 4. Are you currently in need of additional funding for this business?

Yes

Don't know

Other (please specify)

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* 5. If the business does need additional funding, what general purposes is the funding needed for?
(Select all that apply)

Developing a new product line

Transitioning into new types of production (e.g., from dairy to grains)

Transition to value-added production or food/beverage processing (e.g., potato production to distilling for vodka)

Adding or expanding agri-tourism (on-farm sales, farm stays, farm tours)

Expanding to new markets (direct to consumer sales, wholesale/retail)

Increasing transportation/distribution capabilities

Improving on-farm safety

Modernizing existing equipment or infrastructure (e.g., barn repair)

Adapting to climate change (e.g., installing stormwater management / drainage systems, preventing soil erosion, carbon farming, etc.)

Don’t know

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

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* 6. If the business does need additional funding, what specific purposes is funding needed for?
(Select all that apply)

Purchasing equipment

Purchasing, building or renovating structures

Purchasing land

Purchasing vehicle or vehicle repair

Land improvements

Working capital for supplies

Working capital for marketing or promotion or wholesale readiness

Refinancing an existing loan

Hiring service providers (e.g., lawyer, safety auditor, business consultant, etc.)

Don’t know

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

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* 7. If you were to get the needed funding, where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years?

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* 8. Are you aware of funding sources that might meet your business needs as noted above?

Yes

Don't know

Other (please specify)

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* 9. If you are aware of funding sources that would address your needs, have you applied for a grant or loan or taken other steps to access those resources?

Yes

Don't know

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

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* 10. If you are not aware of funding sources that would meet your businesses needs, what would you say is the MAIN reason you are not aware:
(Specify all that apply)

I haven’t looked very hard, it may be out there

I looked but no funder offers funding for what I need (as far as I know)

I don’t have time

I need a referral to point me in the right direction

Don’t know

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

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* 11. If you haven't previously applied for a loan or grant for your business needs, what are the most important reasons preventing you from doing so?
(Check up to three)

Not sure how

Too much paperwork

Most grants are reimbursement based and I don’t have enough capital to front the costs

Grants are so competitive, I’d probably waste time applying and not get anything out of it

Not eligible

Interest rates are too high

Down payment requirements are too high

I prefer not to take on debt

My debt-to-income ratio is too high

I don’t have a business plan

I need a non-profit fiscal sponsor to apply for a grant on my behalf

Don't know

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

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* 12. If you have previously applied for a loan or grant for this business, how easy or difficult was the application process?

Very easy

Easy

Difficult

Very difficult

Don't know

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

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* 13. Which, if any, of the following funding sources have you applied for and/or received in the past?
(Select all that apply)

Federal grants (e.g., USDA Value-added Producer grants)

State grants (e.g., New York State Beginning Farmer grants or Empire State Development grants)

Local grants (e.g., county economic development grant)

FSA guaranteed bank loans (e.g., NBT Bank)

Conventional Non-guaranteed bank loans (e.g., NYBDC)

Private loans or investments (Non-family) (e.g., Dirt Capital or Local Farms Fund)

Crowdsourcing loan (e.g., Kiva)

None/Don’t know

Other (please specify)

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* 14. If you have previously applied for a loan or grant for this business, what would you want to change about that experience?

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* 15. If you have received a grant or loan for this business, how was your experience after receiving it? Is there anything you would wish to change about that experience?

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* 16. If you have applied for a grant or loan and not been funded, what is your understanding of the primary reason?
(Select all that apply)

Too competitive

My application or business plan was perceived as not strong enough

Insufficient credit history

Credit score too low

Insufficient down payment

My debt-to-income ratio is too high

Not eligible for other reasons

Don’t know

Not applicable

Other (please specify)

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* 17. Thinking about our region, what existing funding sources do you believe are most valuable for local farm and food businesses?
(Select all that apply)

Commercial bank loans

County microenterprise

Federal grants

State grants

County/municipal grants

Crowdsource funding channels

Private investors

Don’t know

Other (please specify)

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* 18. What additional funding information or resources would be helpful to further your business goals?

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* 19. Which New York County are you located in?

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* 20. May we follow up with some additional questions?

Yes

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* 21. Please enter your contact information:

Name

Farm/Business name

City/Town

Email Address

Phone Number

Funding needs of farm and food businesses

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* 1. Which of the following best describes your farm or food business's MAIN operation?

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* 2. How long has this business been operating?

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* 3. Is this business your main source of income?

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* 4. Are you currently in need of additional funding for this business?

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* 5. If the business does need additional funding, what general purposes is the funding needed for? (Select all that apply)

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* 6. If the business does need additional funding, what specific purposes is funding needed for?(Select all that apply)

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* 7. If you were to get the needed funding, where do you see yourself and your business in 5 years?

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* 8. Are you aware of funding sources that might meet your business needs as noted above?

Question Title

* 9. If you are aware of funding sources that would address your needs, have you applied for a grant or loan or taken other steps to access those resources?

Question Title

* 10. If you are not aware of funding sources that would meet your businesses needs, what would you say is the MAIN reason you are not aware:(Specify all that apply)

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* 11. If you haven't previously applied for a loan or grant for your business needs, what are the most important reasons preventing you from doing so?(Check up to three)

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* 12. If you have previously applied for a loan or grant for this business, how easy or difficult was the application process?

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* 13. Which, if any, of the following funding sources have you applied for and/or received in the past? (Select all that apply)

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* 14. If you have previously applied for a loan or grant for this business, what would you want to change about that experience?

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* 15. If you have received a grant or loan for this business, how was your experience after receiving it? Is there anything you would wish to change about that experience?

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* 16. If you have applied for a grant or loan and not been funded, what is your understanding of the primary reason? (Select all that apply)

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* 17. Thinking about our region, what existing funding sources do you believe are most valuable for local farm and food businesses?(Select all that apply)

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* 18. What additional funding information or resources would be helpful to further your business goals?

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* 19. Which New York County are you located in?

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* 20. May we follow up with some additional questions?

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* 21. Please enter your contact information:

* 5. If the business does need additional funding, what general purposes is the funding needed for?
(Select all that apply)

* 6. If the business does need additional funding, what specific purposes is funding needed for?
(Select all that apply)

* 10. If you are not aware of funding sources that would meet your businesses needs, what would you say is the MAIN reason you are not aware:
(Specify all that apply)

* 11. If you haven't previously applied for a loan or grant for your business needs, what are the most important reasons preventing you from doing so?
(Check up to three)

* 13. Which, if any, of the following funding sources have you applied for and/or received in the past?
(Select all that apply)

* 16. If you have applied for a grant or loan and not been funded, what is your understanding of the primary reason?
(Select all that apply)

* 17. Thinking about our region, what existing funding sources do you believe are most valuable for local farm and food businesses?
(Select all that apply)