HomeMy WebLinkAbout7. Online Business Retention and Expansion Survey
r;DA f1-7
CITY OF SHAKO PEE
Memorandum
TO: Economic Development Authority
Mark McNeill, EDA Executive Director
FROM: Paul Snook, Economic Development Coordinator
Economic Development Advisory Committee
SUBJECT: Business Retention and Expansion Program / Recommendation
from Economic Development Advisory Committee; Funding of
Online Survey
MEETING DATE: May 6, 2003
Introduction
The EDA is asked to endorse the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Program as
recommended by the Economic Development Advisory Committee, and to approve
partial funding of an online BRE survey, as a cost sharing effort with the
Telecommunications Commission.
Background
At its April 8th meeting, the ED Advisory Committee recommended that the EDA
endorse the Business Retention and Expansion Program and related survey for
implementation by staff, and, with the Telecommunications Commission, fund an online
version of the BRE survey.
Attached are the following Exhibits as background information:
. Exhibit A: April 8, 2003 ED Advisory Committee memo making
recommendation to the EDA.
. Exhibit B: March 11, 2003 ED Advisory Committee memo outlining the BRE
program, with attached letter to businesses and BRE survey.
. Exhibit C: Project Quote from SSMNet for the online BRE survey.
. Exhibit D: Memo from Tracy Schaefer, Assistant to the City Administrator, to the
Telecommunications Commission requesting funding for the online BRE survey.
bre memo eda 5-06-03.doc
Budget Impact
It is proposed that the online BRE survey be a SO/50 cost-sharing venture between the
EDA and Telecommunications Commission. The estimate for the survey is roughly $800
for development and a $30/month hosing fee. The EDA and Telecom Commission would
each commit $500 to the project. The Telecommunications Commission will be
considering this funding at its May 12th meeting.
It should be noted that the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce is also providing value to
this project in the form of staff and volunteer time (see attached memos).
Options
1. Per the ED Advisory Committee's recommendation, endorse the Business
Retention and Expansion (BRE) Program, and approve funding up to $500 for the
online BRE survey as a cost-sharing effort with the Telecommunications
Commission, contingent upon the commission's funding approval at the May lih
meeting. ,
2. Table and request additional information from staff.
Recommendation
Option 1.
Action Requested
Offer and pass a motion endorsing the Business Retention and Expansion (BRE)
Program, and approve EDA funding up to $500 for the online BRE survey as a cost-
sharing effort with the Telecommunications Commission, contingent upon the
commission's funding approval at the May lihmeeting.
bre memo eda 5-06-03.doc
CITY OF SHAKO PEE ~(..\ I B)~ A.
Memorandum
TO: Economic Development Advisory Committee
Mark McNeill, EDA Executive Director
FROM: Paul Snook, Economic Development coordinato~
SUBJECT: Business Retention and Expansion Program / Recommendation to
Economic Development Authority
MEETING DATE: April 8, 2003
Introduction
The EDAC is asked to provide formal recommendation to the Economic Development
Authority regarding the Business Retention and Expansion Program that the committee
has discussed in previous meetings.
Background
At the March 11th meeting you approved a plan for implementing the Business Retention
and Expansion program for 2003. At that meeting staff presented an outline and timeline
for conducting the program and survey, a draft of the letter and survey to be used in the
program, and list of businesses to be surveyed. Staff is working with Chamber of
Commerce Director Carol Schultz on final revisions to the letter and survey. In addition,
we are initiating a list of potential volunteers to conduct interview visits.
Discussion
The EDAC has considered the options for conducting the BRE program and needs to
make a recommendation to the EDA that reflects the approval action of the March 11 th
meeting. Attached is the memo from March 11 th (outline / timeline of program), and
corresponding letter and survey. The EDAC should recommend that the EDA endorse /
approve the program as presented.
Options
1. Recommend that the EDA approve the proposed Business Retention and
Expansion Program
2. Table and request additional information from staff
bre memo edac 4-08-03.doc
Recommendation
Option 1.
Action Required
Offer and pass a motion recommending that the EDA approve the proposed Business
Retention and Expansion Program.
bre memo edac 4-08-03.doc
CITY OF SHAKO PEE ~)C~ t S\"- ~
Memorandum
-
TO: Economic Development Advisory Committee
FROM: Paul Snook, Economic Development coordinato~
SUBJECT: Business Retention and Expansion Program
MEETING DATE: March 11, 2003
Committee Chair Jeff Jansen, Vice Chair Brian Langdon and I met with Chamber of
Commerce Director Carol Schultz to plan the survey effort for the BR&E program. The
program and survey will be structured as follows, with corresponding approximate target
dates:
. Establish online survey (5/23)
. Letter (with survey) sent to company representatives explaining the goal ofthe
program, reason for the survey, and asking for participation. (5/30)
. Companies have three options of completing survey: 1.) Written, 2.) On-line, and
3.) Personal interview. Staff is currently researching the on-line option; the ability
of the City to conduct this depends on how it can be coordinated with current efforts
to upgrade the City's website and budget considerations.
. Four weeks will be allowed for the completion and submittal of surveys. (6/30)
. futerview teams will be developed during the written / on-line survey period.
futerviewers will be recruited from among the Chamber of Commerce members,
EDAC and throughout the Shakopee business community.
. Personal visits will be conducted for those business representatives that opt to not
complete the written and on-line surveys. Teams of two interviewers will visit
approximately four to five businesses. Total number of businesses to be visited will
depend on response to written and on-line surveys. (7/30)
. Visits will be conducted for those businesses that exhibit "red flag" indicators
(issues that need immediate attention). (7/30; ongoing)
. A final report consisting of the survey information will be produced after the
interview process is complete. The EDAC recommends that consideration be made
in seeking assistance from the University of Minnesota Business Retention and
Expansion Program for production of the final report. (8/30).
The target date for completing the surveys and final report is the end of August to mid
September 2003.
bre memo edac 3-11-03.doc
I) Ill'l~l'
Date
Name
Title (CEO, Pres, etc.)
Company Name
Address
Dear
The economic well being of our community is based upon the stability and success of our
existing businesses. Most economic expansion, including increase in jobs and tax base, comes
from existing businesses within the community. In recognition of this fact, positive action is
being taken to identify and meet the needs of these firms. The City of Shakopee' s Economic
Development Authority and Economic Development Advisory Committee, in cooperation
with the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce, is sponsoring a Business Retention and Expansion
Program. The program is a citywide effort that utilizes an in-depth survey as a way of
identifying the needs, concerns and future direction of the existing businesses in Shakopee.
Specifically, the objectives ofthe project are to:
. Confirm basic company information
. Identify specific problems and have companies rate overall satisfaction with
community services
. Identify trends within a company's industry regarding demand, product
innovation, competition, etc.
. Gather information about a company's markets, activities and plans
. Explore growth potential of companies
. Assess changing relationships with key customers and or suppliers
The survey will be used to retain businesses in Shakopee and to facilitate the expansion of
existing businesses.
You are invited to participate in the Business Retention and Expansion Survey. Your input the
Business Retention and Expansion Survey is very important to the project, and your responses
to the survey questions will be held in strict confidence. There are two options for completing
the survey: the enclosed paper form, or an on-line version at the City of Shako pee website,
www.cLshakopee.mn.us (need to put something here re password / access). Please return the
completed survey by . A report of the survey results will be produced after the
surveys and corresponding tabulation are complete. If you find that you are unable to
)) 111'I~rl'
complete the survey, project volunteers will contact you to schedule an appointment to assist
in completing the survey. The appointment will last approximately one hour.
We greatly appreciate your involvement in this effort to improve the economy of our
community. If you have any questions about this program, please feel free to call the project
coordinators:
Paul Snook Carol Schultz
Economic Development Coordinator Executive Director
City of Shakopee Shakopee Chamber of Commerce
(952) 496-9661 (952) 445-1660
Sincerely,
William P. Mars Mark Stanton
Mayor President
City of Shakopee Shakopee Chamber of Commerce
Matt Lehman Jeff Jansen
President Chair
City of Shakopee City of Shakopee
Economic Development Authority Economic Development Advisory Committee
CITY OF SHAKOPEE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION SURVEY
Firm ID:
Also record on pages 1 & 3
The followin2 information is to be completed bv the person conductin2 the interview:
Date of Visit:
Company Name:
Company Address:
City (of this facility): State: Zip:
Person(s) Interviewed: Title:
Title:
Other Key Officials in This Establishment:
Owner
Chief Executive Officer
Plant Manager
Personnel Officer
Volunteer Visitors:
Notes to person(s) conductin2 interview:
Request permission to follow up on specific issues.
Skip-it rule: Person surveyed is under no obligation to answer and may choose to skip specific questions.
Confidentiality: Answers to survey are confidential and will be summarized with those of other firms.
Note to Coordinator: After placing the ID number on this cover sheet and on pages 1 and 3, remove the
cover sheet and file separately to ensure confidentiality of results.
City of Shakopee
Economic Development Authority
))UIU~'I' City of Shakopee
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION SURVEY
Shakopee Economic Development Authority
Economic Development Advisory Committee
Business Retention and Expansion Program
Background
Existing firms are the primary source of future economic growth. The purpose of this program is to facilitate the
growth of existing firms.
I. This program is sponsored locally by the City of Shakopee and Shakopee Chamber of Commerce
II. The survey is a cooperative effort involving volunteers drawn from local businesses, local government,
and community organizations.
III. The objectives of the program are to:
. Demonstrate the community's appreciation for firms and their economic contributions.
. Confirm basic company information
. Identify specific problems and have companies rate overall satisfaction with community services
. Identify trends within a company's industry regarding demand, product innovation, competition, etc.
. Gather information about company markets, activities and plans
. Explore growth potential of companies
. Assess changing relationships with key customers or suppliers
. Establish and implement a regular Business Retention & Expansion program in the City of Shakopee.
Confidentiality - Your individual answers to this survey are confidential and will not be released. Your response
will be summarized with those of others to form an overall result in percentages or averages.
The "Ski? It" Rule - If there is a question that you feel might be best to skip, we will do that; just let us know.
There is no need to explain your reasons.
Copy of Final Report - Copies ofthe summary will be provided to all firms that participate in this survey.
Firm ID
))lllU~'1 City of Shakopee
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION SURVEY
Business Overview
1. What form of organization is your business? (Circle all that applv)
Public Private Sole Partnership Cooperative For-Profit Non-Profit Family-
Corporation Corporation Proprietor owned
2. Where are your principal market areas located? (Circle all that applv and soecifv locations below. e.!!.. citv. state. country)
Local Regional National International
3. What product(s) or service(s) does your firm provide?
4. Primary SIC(s): Secondary SIC(s):
5. Are total company sales: (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
6. Are total company profits: (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
7. Is the market share of your company's key products/ services: (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
8. Why?
9. Is new technology emerging that will change your company's product or how it is produced? (Circle one) Yes No
10. If so, please explain:
11. Do you anticipate any legislative changes that will help or hurt your business? (Circle one) Yes No
12. If so, what are they and how will they affect your company?
13. Is merger, acquisition, or divestiture activity in your industry: (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
14. Is your firm locally owned? (Circle one) Yes No
15. If not locally owned, where is your corporate headquarters located?
16. Do you have multiple locations? (Circle one) Yes No
17. If so, where are they located?
18. Are your company's current facilities adequate for anticipated future operations (3-5 years)? (Circle one) Yes No
19. If not, why?
20. When did your firm locate here? 21. From where?
22. Do you own or lease this facility? (Circle one) Own Lease 23. If leased, when does lease expire?
1
))UJu~rl City of Shakopee
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION SURVEY
Suppliers/Customers
Firm ID
What raw materials or other components are used to create or produce your product or service and where do they come from?
(Please specifY point of origin by city, state, and supplier)
24. Raw Materials or Other Components 25. Point of Origin (Specify city, state, and supplier)
26. How are raw materials sent to you? (Circle all that apply) 27. How do you ship your products? (Circle all that apply)
Truck Rail Air Other Truck Rail Air Other
28. In what industries are your major customers?
29. Do you import products or services from other states or countries at this location? (Circle one) Yes No (If No. f!0 to 35)
If so, what do you import from other states or countries, and from what locations? (Match products to locations)
30. Products, services: 31. Location(s): (Specify states and countries)
32. Is the percentage of products imported from other states or countries: (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
If increasing or decreasing, what goods or services are involved, and from what location(s)? (Match products to locations)
33. Products, services: 34. Location(s): (SpecifY states and countries)
35. Do you export products or services to other states or countries from here? (Circle one) Yes No (If No. f!0 to 41)
If so, what products or services do you export, and to what location(s)? (Match products to locations)
36. Products, services: 37. Location(s): (SpecifY states and countries)
38. Is the percentage of products exported by your company at this location: (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
If increasing or decreasing, what goods or services are involved, and to what location(s)? (Match products to locations)
39. Products, services: 40. Location(s): (SpecifY states and countries)
41. Are there suppliers or customers that would benefit by being located closer to this facility? (Circle one) Yes No
42. If so, companies and location:
Labor
43. How many full-time employees do you typically maintain at this location? (Circle one)
0-9 10-19 20-49 50-99 100-249 250-499 500-999 1,000 +
44. How many part-time employees (less than 40 hours per week) do you typically maintain at this location?
2
J)UAl~rl' City of Shakopee
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION SURVEY
Firm ID
Labor, continued
45. Are the projected employment needs for this location: (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
46. Is the labor supply at this location adequate to fulfill your current and future needs? (Circle one) Yes No
47. Do you have any difficulty recruiting new employees? (Circle one) Yes No (If No. flO to Question 50)
48. Does your company have problems recruiting employees in the following categories? (Circle one answer per category)
Catel!orv Yes No Unsure Catel!orv Yes No Unsure
(a) General labor 1 2 3 (f) Technical 1 2 3
(b) General production labor 1 2 3 (g) Professional/management 1 2 3
(c) Precision production/specialty skills 1 2 3 (h) Temporary/contract employees 1 2 3
(d) Clerical 1 2 3 (i) Youth employees 1 2 3
(e) Sales 1 2 3 (j) Other (specify) 1 2 3
49. If you answered yes to any categories above, please explain problem(s). (SpecifY categories by corresponding letters above)
Catel!orv Nature of Problem
50. Do your employment levels vary substantially during the year due to production cycles? (Circle one) Yes No
51. If so, when? 52. By how much? _ % increase/decrease 53. Reason(s)?
54. What percentage of your local workforce, if any, is represented by a labor union? _ % 55. Which union?
56. Have you had any work stoppages at this location within the last three years? (Circle one) Yes No
57. Have you had any union organization attempts at this location in the last three years? (Circle one) Yes No
58. Please indicate where most of your employees live. (Estimate percentage to the nearest] 0%, total should equal] 00%)
(a) Shakopee - % (b) Scott County (outside Shakopee) % (c) Outside Scott County %
- -
59. What is the average starting hourly wage paid to employees in each category?
General labor General Precision Clerical Sales Technical Professional/
production production management
60. Does your company provide benefits to its employees? (Circle one) Yes No (If No, skip next Question)
61. Which of the following benefits are available to your full-time and part-time employees? (Please check all that apply)
Catel!orv Full-time Part-time Catel!orv Full-time Part-time
(a) Health insurance (g) Profit sharing
(b) Life insurance (h) Tuition reimbursement
(c) Disability insurance (i) Retirement/401 K contribution
(d) Paid vacation time (j) Uniforms/uniform allowance
(e) Paid sick leave (k) Child care/dependent benefits
(f) Bonus (1) Other (specify)
3
))Ulu~rI City of Shakopee
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION SURVEY
Business Climate
62. Based on the following factors, please grade this location as a place for your company to do business: (Circle one for each)
I A) Excellent I B) Good I C) Average I D) Poor I F) Very Poor I
a) Availability of Skilled Labor A B C D F b) Availability of Unskilled Labor A B C D F
c) Worker Stability A B C D F d) Worker Productivity A B C D F
e) Wage Rates A B C D F f) Union Profile A B C D F
g) Technical Training Programs A B C D F h) Highway Accessibility A B C D F
i) Railroad Service A B C D F j) Accessibility to Major Airport A B C D F
k) Proximity to Major Markets A B C D F 1) Availability of Credit A B C D F
m) Availability and Cost of Land A B C D F n) Availability and Cost of Buildings A B C D F
0) Proximity to Raw Materials A B C D F p) Proximity to Service Suppliers A B C D F
q) Environmental Regulations A B C D F r) Low Crime Rate A B C D F
s) Unemployment Insurance A B C D F t) Worker Compensation Rates A B C D F
u) Local Taxes A B C D F v) State Taxes A B C D F
w) Proximity to Colleges/Universities A B C D F x) Housing Cost and Availability A B C D F
y) Cultural Opportunities A B C D F z) Recreational Opportunities A B C D F
63. Please rank in order the three factors above you would consider the greatest strengths of this community as a location for
your business and the three factors you would consider the greatest weaknesses. (Specify by corresponding letters above)
Strengths (Rankfrom 1 - 3) Weaknesses (Rankfrom 1 - 3)
1. 1.
2. 2.
3. 3.
64. How would you rate the business climate at this location? (Circle one)
A) Excellent B) Good C) Average D) Poor F) Very Poor
65. How would you rate the overall business climate in Minnesota? (Circle one)
A) Excellent B) Good C) Average D) Poor F) Very Poor
4
J)UIU~'1' City of Shakopee
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION SURVEY
Business Climate, continued
66. Based on the following community services, please grade this location as a place for your company to do business:
I A) Excellent I B) Good I C) A vera~e I D) Poor I F) Very Poor I
a) Street Maintenance/Drainage A B C D F b) Water and Sewer A B C D F
c) Police Protection A B C D F d) Fire Protection A B C D F
e) Emergency Medical Services A B C D F f) Health Care Facilities A B C D F
g) Electricity Cost and Reliability A B C D F h) Natural Gas Cost and Reliability A B C D F
i) Teleconnnunications Services A B C D F j) Solid Waste Disposal A B C D F
k) Zoning and Permitting A B C D F I) Code Enforcement A B C D F
m) Available Building Space A B C D F n) Available Land A B C D F
0) Public Schools A B C D F p) Financial Institutions A B C D F
q) Child Care A B C D F r) Community College A B C D F
s) Local Chamber of Commerce A B C D F t) Local Economic Development Corp. A B C D F
67. Would you like additional information concerning any of the following subjects? (Circle Yes or No for each)
Then in the next column, rank the three most important ones.
Yes No Rank 3 most important
(a) Business management Yes No
(b) Strategic business planning Yes No
(c) Total quality management Yes No
(d) Financing programs Yes No
(e) Marketing strategies Yes No
(f) Labor training/staff development Yes No
(g) Mentoring Yes No
(h) State taxes Yes No
(i) Local taxes Yes No
U) Selling to government Yes No
(k) Employee benefits Yes No
(1) Recycling for business wastes Yes No
(m) e-commerce Yes No
(n) Other (specify) Yes No
68. What programs or services do the city/county/state currently offer to help to !llake your company more competitive?
69. What programs or services should the city/county/state offer to help make your company more competitive?
5
))U1U~'1 City of Shakopee
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION SURVEY
Business Climate, continued
70. What kinds of changes, if any, would make this location more appealing to your company as a business location.
71. How would you characterize Shakopee's physical appearance? (Circle one)
A) Excellent B) Good C) Average D) Poor F) Very Poor
72. If not good or excellent, what areas need improving (be specific: entrances, public spaces, downtown, industrial, other)?
73. How important is beautification of the community to you? (Circle one)
A) Very Important B) Important C) Neutral D) Not Important
Business Changes/Expectations/Plans
74. Has your business expanded at this location within the last three (3) years? (Circle one) Yes No (If No. 20 to 77)
75. If so, what was the nature of the expansion? (Please fill in appropriate responses on blanks)
Employees Land Building Equipment Sales Other (Specify)
(Number) (Acreage) (Square Footage) (Investment) (Percent Increase)
$
76. What business factors contributed to the expansion? (Please circle factors contributing to expansion)
Increased Sales/ Facilities Lower Decreased Employee Other (Specify)
Product Demand Consolidation Production Costs Competition Productivity
77. Have you reduced your business operation in the last three (3) years? (Circle one) Yes No (If No. 20 to 80)
78. If so, what was the nature of the reduction? (Please fill in appropriate responses on blanks)
Employees Land Building Equipment Sales Other (Specify)
(Number) (Acreage) (Square Footage) (Investment) (Percent Decrease)
$
79. What factors contributed to the reduction? (Please circle factors contributing to reduction)
Decreased Sales/ Facilities Higher Increased Employee Other (Specify)
Product Demand Consolidation Production Costs Competition Productivity
80. What changes are expected for this location for the next three (3) years? (Please fill in appropriate responses on blanks)
Employees Land Building Equipment Sales Other (Specify)
(Number) (Acreage) (Square Footage) (Investment) (Percent)
$
6
J)UIu~rl City of Shakopee
BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION SURVEY
Business Changes/Expectations/Plans (continued)
81. Are the following projected utility needs for this facility: a) increasing b) stable c) decreasing (Circle a, b, or cfor each)
Water Sewer Electricity Natural Gas Telecommunications
a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c
82. Do you expect to consolidate or relocate this facility in the next 3 years? (Circle one) Yes No (IfNo.1!o to Question 85)
83. If so, for what reason(s) is a consolidation or relocation expected?
84. Where would you anticipate the consolidation or relocation to take place?
85. What new products/services have been introduced at this location during the last three (3) years?
86. What new products/services are anticipated at this location in the next three (3) years?
New Products/M arkets/Opportunities
87. Are you interested in forming a strategic aHiance or partnership with another company? (Circle one) Yes No
If so, please describe.
Type of Project:
Key Objectives:
Desired Assistance:
Timetable:
88. We have covered many issues. Please help us set some priorities on how we can help your firm or what we should work on
to help all of our existing firms grow and expand. Your comments are appreciated.
Thank you for your cooperation with our Business Retention and Expansion visitation program. We appreciate the time you have given
us and the contribution your firm is making to our local economy. We cannot promise to solve the concerns you mentioned, but we will
promise to try. Jfwe can help you in the future, please call the City of Shako pee Economic Development Coordinator at 952-233-3800.
7
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SSMNET Project Quote -
-
Date: 04/17/03
Company: City of Shakopee
One-Time Project Fee: $800
. 8 Forms pages (initial business info + 7 survey pages)
. Program that saves form submissions to MySQL database and e-mail notification to contact person.
. Simple administration pages to view and organize form submissions
. Admin creates Tab Separated File for importing into Excel or Access
Monthly Fees: $30/month
. Form and administration pages hosted at https://secure.ssnmet.net/
. SSL pages (secured for privacy)
. MySQL database
. Cold Fusion MX
Time To Complete: 5 business Days
Time estimate includes time to code, debug and "go live" with program. If you would like a shorter time
schedule, please let me know.
Requirement to start project:
. Yz project fee as down payment ($400)
Detailed above is the initial one-time fee of $800 and the reoccurring fee of $30 per month. I've tried to
give you a clear picture of the cost and time involved in this project.
The initial fee includes HTML and Cold Fusion coding to create the form pages and the application that
receives the form. This program will save the information into the MySQL database and send out an email
notification that a survey form has been completed.
Also included in the initial cost will be an administration web site that will allow you to view and organize
all survey form submissions and create a tab separated file for importing into programs like Excel or Acess
Database. This will allow you to create detailed form analysis applications in the program of your choice.
The monthly cost includes the following: SSL (Secure Socket Layer) pages for securing the survey form
submissions; use of a MySQL database; use of Cold Fusion MX. The online survey would be accessed
from your current site by hypertext link to https://secure.ssnmet.net/citvofshakopee/survev.cfm.
The time estimate is the total time in coding the form pages and administration pages, plus the time
involved in debugging and deploying the site. Also in there will some time in waiting for approval of the
beta version and any changes/alterations to the site.
Please contact me if you need further information to make a decision. Thanks for considering using
SSMNET for this project.
Thanks!
Stephen Schletty
SSMNET
webmaster@ssmnet.net
~X~ '"Brt D .
City of Shakopee --
Memorandum
TO: Telecommunications Commission
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Tracy Schaefer, Assistant to the City Administrator
SUBJECT: Website - Business Survey
MEETING DATE: May 12,2003
Introduction
The Economic Development Advisory Committee and the Economic Development
Authority (EDA) would like to offer an online business retention/expansion survey.
Background
Economic Development Coordinator Paul Snook has approached me to make the
business retention and expansion survey available online this summer, before the new
website is launched.
The online survey will allow the City to gather strategic information about Shakopee
businesses for purposes of retention and expansion. The survey will be password
protected, thus only Shakopee businesses will be able to participate. A link will be
placed on the current city website.
Since the project benefits the business community, city and adds a new
telecommunications service, Economic Development Coordinator, Paul Snook, and I felt
that a cost sharing, 50/50, venture between the EDA and Telecommunications
Commission would allow this project to happen in 2003.
It is the goal of the ED Advisory Committee and EDA to continue to offer an online
business survey, but it is the goal of city staff to incorporate it into the development ofthe
new website for 2004, thus avoiding such additional hosting costs in the future. Such
technologies make it easier for businesses and staff to gather information and more cost
effective than a mail or phone survey, since mailings, paper and the like can be
eliminated.
Budget Impact
It is proposed that the EDA fund 50% ofthe costs. It is $800 to develop the online
survey and $30/month to host the survey. It is expected that the survey would need to be
hosted for roughly 2-3 months. The total cost to the Telecommunications Fund would
not exceed $500. Attached is the complete breakdown ofthe project for your information
and a copy of the survey that will be made available online.
Action
Approve up to $500 to implement the online business retention/expansion survey for this
summer.
Tracy Schaefer
Assistant to the City
Administrator
1
eDA- #
7
BRE SURVEY
Company Name
Ace Metal Finishing
ADC Broadband Infrastructure
Advanced Microbial Systems Inc
Agri-Nutrition Svc
Air Products & Chemicals Inc
Alpha Tool Products
Anchor Glass Container Corp
Certain Teed Corp
Chemrex Inc
Diemold Toollnc
DUECO
Earls Food Products
Elk River Concrete Products
Enterprise Pattern & Prototype
Fischer Wire & Plastic
Mammut
Generation II
Gustafson
H & B Machine
Haas Woodworking
Hardwood Lumber Inc
Huth Aluminum.Foundry Inc
Inland Container Corp
Johnson/Anderson & Assoc
Link Cabinets
Luma Sales Assoc
Mc Kay Data Systems Inc
Merten Sign & Striping
Neenah Foundry Co
Northland Forest Products Inc
Nu-Star Inc
BOL T Industries
Picha's Cabinet Shop
Pinnacle Tool
Product Development Ctr
Quality Forklift Sales & Svc
Rahr Malting Co
Riverfront Press
Rubber Industries Inc
S S Design & Production
Sea gate Technology
Shakopee Valley News
South Metro Wire EDM
Spring Lake Fiberglass
T oro Co
Ward Performance Inc
Wheeler Lumber/Wheeler Doors
Ziegler, Inc.
Thexton Manufacturing Co