BY: G RA N T C O U N T Y E C O N O M I C G R O W T H C O U N C I L

GRANT COUNTY 2011BUSINESS CLIMATE

SURVEY

• 48 Respondents• 13 manufacturing • 29 non-manufacturing• 6 no response

Conducted from January 17 to March 7, 2011. Through Survey Monkey.By Grant County Economic Growth Council

SURVEY REPRESENTATION

• Businesses represented• Ranging from seasoned 1893 to new 2010

• Currently employing a wide range of employees

• from 0-976 employees (average of 150 employees) • which is a 5% increase from 2 years ago (2008 averaged 143 employees)

• 110 employees on average are Hourly • 34 employees on average are salary

67.4% of those surveyed plan to invest and/or expand in the next two years. 32.6% of those surveyed plan NOT to invest or expand in the next two years.

67%

33%

Considering Expansion or Investment in New Equip-

ment

Yes

No

90.9% of those planning to invest claim they are investing in Grant County9.1% of those planning to invest claim they are investing outside Grant County.

91%

9%

If investing, the business is plan to Invest in Grant County

Yes No

RESOURCES THE GROWTH COUNCIL COULD PROVIDE

• Capital and Funding options• Federal programs and Grants • Represent the community • Referrals • Tax abatement

* Note: A summary of answers from 18 respondents is represented above.

Expect your number of employees

Increase

Remain stable

Decrease

Not sure

62.5% of respondents expect their number of employees to INCREASE over the next 2 years.

33.3% of respondents expect their number of employees to REMAIN STABLE over the next 2 years.

0% of respondents expect their number of employees to DECREASE over the next 2 years.

4.2% of respondents are NOT SURE what to expect for their employees over the next 2 years.

Largest Obstacle or Barrier to expand-ing

Market conditions

Zoning

Landlocked site

Availability of capital

Availability of adequate workforce skills

Other (please specify)

43.8% claim that Market Conditions are the greatest barrier.0% claim that Zoning is the greatest barrier.6.3% claim that a Landlocked site limits their expansion.22.9% claim that availability of capital limits their expansion.16.7% claim that availability of adequate workforce skills limits their expansion. 10.4% claims other condition limit their expansion

LIVING IN GRANT COUNTY

• 47% to 100% of current salaried employees are Grant County residents

• 10% to 100% of current management employees are Grant County residents

• 50% to 100% of current hourly employees are Grant County residents

Difficulty Recruiting

Yes No

63% of companies who responded do not have difficulty recruiting employees

Attribute the ease of recruiting to the following: - attractive compensation packages- low turn over

- local universities

37% of companies who responded do have difficulty recruiting employees.

Attribute the difficulty to the following: - low starting wages makes it difficult to attract- unskilled job requirements- available skills (shortage in specialized areas) - unattractive location

*Note: A summary of answers are represented above.

Difficulty Retaining Employees

Yes No

87% of companies who responded do not have difficulty retaining employees

Attribute the ease of retaining employees:- attractive compensation packages- great work environment and culture - training programs

13% of companies who responded do have difficulty retaining employees

Attribute the difficulty of retaining employees:- local attractions (prefer a larger community) - attendance or not willing to learn new and needed skills

*Note: A summary of answers are represented above.

IMPORTANCE OF SKILLS WHEN HIRING OR RETAINING EMPLOYEES

The number represents the respondents who agreed with the level of skills.

PERCENTAGE OF REQUIRED EDUCATION FOR ENTRY LEVEL POSITION

High School diploma:

Vocational/ technical training:

College degree:

Post-college degree:

.00

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

80.00

90.00

84.3% require HS diploma 7.7% require vocational/ technical training 9.6% require a College degree3.8% require a Post-college degree

Employees’ Overall Productiv-ity

Excellent Good

Fair Poor

21.7% rated their current employees’ overall worker productivity to be Excellent.

71.7% rated their current employees’ overall worker productivity to be Good.

6.5% rated their current employees’ overall worker productivity to be Fair.

None rated their employees’ productivity as Poor.

Rate your company’s level of Employee Compensation

Higher

Same

Lower

41.3% rated their company’s level of employee compensation to be Higher than competitors.

45.7% rated their company’s level of employee compensation to be the Same as their competitors.

13% rated their company’s level of employee compensation to be Lower than their competitor.

Financing Needs Met Com-mercially

Yes No

81.4% of those who responded said that their financing needs were currently being met in the commercial market

18.6% of those who responded said that their financial needs were Not currently being met in the commercial market.

AVAILABILITY OF WORKERS

The number represents the respondents who agreed with the level of availability.

RATED OVERALL QUALITY OF WORKING TYPES

The number represents the respondents who agreed with the quality of the working type.

IMPORTANCE LEVEL OF SERVICES TO BUSINESSES

The number represents the respondents who agreed with the rating importance level of the services and facilities type.

QUALITY RANKING OF SERVICES AND FACILITIES

The number represents the respondents who agreed with the rating quality of the services and facilities type.

RATING OF OVERALL SATISFACTION OF BUSINESS CLIMATE

The number represents the respondents who agreed with the level of satisfaction of the business climate.

Yes No

Worked with Growth Council over the past 2 years

77.8% of respondents have worked with the Growth Council in the past 2 years.

22.2% of respondents have not worked with the Growth Council in the past 2 years.

65% of respondents who have worked with the GCEGC were Highly Satisfied.

15% of respondents who have worked with the GCEGC were Somewhat Satisfied.

5% of respondents who have worked with the GCEGC had a Neutral.

15% of respondents who have worked with the GCEGC were Very Dissatisfied.

15% 5%

15%65%

Satisfaction of those who have worked with GCEGC

Very dissatisfiedSomewhat dissatisfiedNeutralSomewhat satis-fiedHighly satisfied

QUESTIONS

Thank You.