HomeMy WebLinkAbout7.A. Results of Business Retention & Expansion Survey
City of Shakopee I,
Memorandum
TO: Economic Development Authority
FROM: Kris Wilson, Assistant to the City Administrator
SUBJECT: Business Retention & Expansion Survey
DATE: April 13, 2005
INTRODUCTION
The City has just completed a joint effort with the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce to
conduct a Business Retention & Expansion Survey. The attached survey was mailed to
102 local businesses in late January. We received 28 responses. Overall the responses
were positive and raised no major "red flags." A majority of the respondents reported
increasing sales and profits, predicted stable or increasing employment needs, and said
both their transportation and Internet needs are being met. Staff will present a summary
of the responses to key survey questions at the EDA meeting on April 18.
ACTION REQUESTED
No action is needed. This is an informational item
SHAKOPEE
~ha'SINt1l1_
Shakopee Economic Development Authority
Shakopee Area Chamber of Commerce
Business Retention & Expansion Survey
January 2006
Company Name:
Company Address:
Person(s) Completing Survey:
Name: Title:
Phone #: Email:
Name: Title:
Phone #: Email:
Thank you for taking the time to tell us about your business. If you come to a question that does
not apply to your business or that you prefer not to disclose, please feel free to leave that question
blank and continue on with the survey. While city staff or elected officials may contact you to
learn more about your response to a particular question, the survey results will be complied
without company names attached.
Questions? Please call Kris Wilson, Assistant to the City Administrator, (952) 233 - 9312.
Business Overview
1. What form of organization is your business? (Circle all that avvlv)
Public Private Sole Partnership Cooperative For-Profit Non-Profit Fami1y-
Corporation Corporation Proprietor owned
2. What product(s) or service(s) does your firm provide?
3. Are total company sales: (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
4. Are total company profits: . (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
5. Is the market share of your company's key products/ services: (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
6. Why?
7. Where are your principal market areas located?
8. Is your firm locally owned? (Circle one) Yes No
9. If not locally owned, where is your corporate headquarters located?
10. Do you have multiple locations? (Circle one) Yes No
11. If so, where are they located?
12. Are your company's current facilities adequate for anticipated future operations (3-5 years)? (Circle one) Yes No
13. If not, why?
14. How long has your business been located in Shakopee?
15. Did you relocate to Shakopee from another city? If so, where?
16. Do you own or lease your facility?
17. Ifleased, when does your lease expire?
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Suppliers/Customers
18. Who are your primary customers and where are they located?
19. Do you import products or services from other states or countries at this location? (Circle one) Yes No (!(No. 20 to 24)
20. Are any ofthe following transportation modes critical to your business? (Please circle all that apply)
Truck Rail Air Other
21. Are your transportation needs being met? If not, please explain.
22. Are there suppliers or customers that would benefit by being located closer to this facility? (Circle one) Yes No
23. If so, please list the companies and their current location:
Labor
24. How many full-time employees do you have in Shakopee?
25. How many part-time employees (less than 40 hours per week) do you have?
26. Are the projected employment needs for this location: (Circle one) increasing stable decreasing
27. Is the labor supply at this location adequate to fulfill your current and future needs? (Circle one) Yes No
28. Do you have any difficulty recruiting new employees? (Circle one) Yes No
29. If you answered no to #27 or yes to #28, please explain the problem(s).
30. Please estimate where most of your employees live.
(a) Shakopee % (b) Scott County (outside Shakopee) % (c) Outside Scott County _%
31. What is the average wage paid to employees in each category?
General Precision Professional/
General labor Production Production Clerical Sales Technical Management
32. Does your company provide benefits to its employees? (Circle one) Yes No
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Business Clbnate
33. How would you rate the business climate in Shakopee? (Circle one)
A) Excellent B) Good C) Average D) Poor F) Very Poor
34. What do you consider Shakopee's greatest strengths and greatest weaknesses as a place to do business?
. Strengths Weaknesses
I. I.
2. 2.
3. 3.
35. Based on the following community services, please grade the city as a place for your company to do business:
I A = Excellent I B = Good I C = Average 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 t) 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) Telecommunications Services A B C D F j) Solid Waste Disposal A B C D F
k) Zoning and Permitting A B C D F 1) 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
36. What programs or services do the city/county/state currently offer to help to make your company more competitive?
37. What programs or services should the city/county/state offer to help make your company more competitive?
38. What kinds of changes, if any, would make this location more appealing to your company as a business location?
39. How would you characterize Shakopee's physical appearance? (Circle one)
A) Excellent B) Good C). Average D) Poor F) Very Poor
40. If not good or excellent, what areas need improving (be specific: entrances, public spaces, downtown, industrial, other)?
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Business Changes /Expectations / Plans
41. Has your business expanded at this location within the last three (3) years? (Circle one) . Yes No
42. If yes, what was the nature of the expansion?
Added Employees (Number: Equipment (Investment)
Land (Acreage: Sales
Expanded Building (Sq. Ft. Other (please speqfj,).... ."......... ........................................mm.... ..........m........
43. 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
44. Have you reduced your business operation in the last three (3) years? (Circle one) Yes No
45. If yes, what was the nature ofthe reduction?
Employees (Number) Equipment (Investment)
Land (Acreage) Sales
Building (Square Footage) Other (please specify)
46. 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
47. 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)
$
48. Are the following projected utility needs for this facility: a) increasing b) stable c) decreasing (Circle a, b, or c for each)
Water Sewer Electricity Natural Gas Telecommunications
a b c a b c a b c a b c a b c
49. Do you expect to consolidate or relocate this facility in the next 3 years? (Circle one) Yes No ([(No. eo to Question 52)
50. If so, for what reason(s) is a consolidation or relocation expected?
51. Where would you anticipate the consolidation or relocation to take place?
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Internet! Teleco""l1unications
52. Does your business currently use the Internet? Yes No
53. If so, what type of Internet service do you use?
Cable Modem DSL Wireless T1 ISDN Dial
54. Are your Internet business needs being met? Yes
55. If not, what is the cause? (Circle aU apply)
Speed Price Relillomty Security Other
56. Are there any other questions, comments, or concerns related to your business that you would like the City to be aware
of?
Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. We appreciate the
contribution your firm is making to our local economy and hope to use the information
gathered by this survey to further improve the City and its services.
Please mail completed survey in the enclosed envelope to:
Kris Wilson
City of Shakopee
129 Holmes St. S.
Shakopee, MN55379
If you have questions, comments or suggestions regarding the City or if we can be of assistance to you at
anytime, please don't hesitate to contact Kris Wilson, Assistant to the City Administrator, at 952-233-9312.
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