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HomeMy WebLinkAbout7A - Business Retention Survey Results MEETING DATE: AGENDA #: PREPARED BY: AGENDA ITEM: DISCUSSION: REVIEWED BY: PRIOR LAKE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY NOVEMBER 15, 1999 "?A DONALD RYE, PLANNING DIRECTOR CONSIDER RESULTS OF BUSINESS RETENTION SURVEY Commissioner Schenck will make a report on the findings of the Business Retention Survey which was conducted by EDA members over the past few months. 1620tiPHagtis\~\~.ts\7RtId>jist2.<OOl:; Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 A:\ EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Introduction: The Business Retention and Expansion Survey was distributed to random businesses in Prior Lake in mid-August 1999. Two weeks was permitted before members of the Economic Development Authority (EDA) contacted assigned businesses to establish interview dates and times. Out of the 50 surveys sent out, two refused to return the survey, one determined that the questions had already been answered in a previous Economic Impact Statement recently submitted, three had second copies faxed and third copies hand delivered but not returned andfour never responded to repeated requests for an appointment. Recommendation # 1: Most of the difficulties associated with the return of the form as well as scheduling the interview stemmed from the business time of the season for not only the businesses but EDA Members as well. Future surveys need to be conducted in either the Fall or Winter seasons. The fact that it was difficult for business owners to meet with EDA Members however is encouraging in that it is an indicator that local business is thriving. More than anticipated results of this survey need to be termed "Inconclusive" as annotated by the bold letter '1". The survey as laid out provided the business owner to answer in either a percentage or actual amount. Being unable to determine the size of a business in relation to the answer provided was impossible to determine. In addition, some questions which should have provided actual numbers, instead requested percentages Recommendation #2: Future surveys should permit more precise answers and frequent cross-references to that a "tracking" can be done by the surveyor. Answers from Downtown business owners would have a different response than one at Priordale Mall for example. These trackings are a very important part of the survey. Most surveys provide an "accuracy estimate". In this case, because of the questions asked, the inability to track responses and the inability to get 100% of the surveys returned, this survey can only provide a general outlook at our business retention and expansion efforts. Of the business owners interviewed, most stated that this "was about time" or should have been "done a long time ago" indicating that knowing the business climate of Prior Lake was important to them. Recommendation #3: The intent behind having EDA Members conduct the survey was to permit the members to get out and meet business owners face-toface. That was a very positive move. It was very time consuming for the EDA Members all of which have jobs of their own. The recommendation would be for the city to budget for a professional survey analysis within the next three years. Benefits would include more conclusive results and a more expedient report analysis. The fact that the City is interested in input from the business owners is still the most important factor. In addition, the time spent on this report has exceeded 75 hours in establishing the survey, retrieving survey results and the actual analysis. A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 1 BUSINESS RETENTION AND EXPANSION PROGRAM Visitation Survey 1. Is all the information on the cover sheet complete and correct? (circle one) YES (29) NO (6) If "No", make the necessary corrections. 2. Did you firm begin its operation in this community? (circle one) YES* (28) NO (12) If "No" where did you move from and when? Community State Year Moved Here For the NO respondents, most came to Prior Lake from Burnsville with the remainder comingfrom, or being a branch of South of The River locations. *If"Yes", what year? For the YES respondents, businesses were established in Prior Lake anywhere from 1909 to 1996 with the heaviest concentration in the late 80 'so 3. Is this establishment a branch plant, a satellite, or a franchise? (circle one) YES* (9) NO (28) *If"Yes", in which state is the headquarters? Of those responding YES, four had branch offices in Minnesota with others indicating branches in Oregon, Texas and Michigan. 4. Which of the following industries best describes your business? (circle all that apply) (6) (2) wholesale trade (7) (16)retail trade (8) (8) finance, insurance and real estate (9) (15)services (10) education (11) home-based business (12) (3)other (specify) 2- auto service and 1 golf course Of the business base in Prior Lake, an even mix is between the service and retail side. The manufacturing side is increasing in a positive way, while several of the businesses are "transportation" related, indicating services to vehicular travel. (1 )(2) farming (2) mining (3) (5) construction (4) (6) manufacturing (5) (9) transportation and public utilities A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 2 5. What are the major products or services offered by this establishment and what percentage of your sales come from each one? The responses to this question could provide no conclusive answers. Each business had unique services or products and no trend or conclusion could be reached. Major product or service % sales (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) other ( specify) 100% 6. Do you expect the sales for your services and/or products to increase, stay the same, or decrease over the next three years? (circle one) This is the first time that the true theme of the business survey can be seen, that of the 40 respondents, 38 planned for an increase need of their service and/or product, while one estimated that their business would remain the same. One elected to skip this question as was permitted in the survey instructions. (1) (38)increase (2)(1) stay the same (3) decrease 7. Where does your firm sell most of its products or services? This to has to be one of the "inconclusive" survey answers. With percentages being asked of the respondents, the results gave very mixed signals. What is evident is that the businesses rely on local support from the Prior Lake Community and later on in the remarks section that is once again an emphasis. The remainder of the results indicates that "south of the river" customers are equally important. A lesser, but equally significant of businesses indicated that their product is exported to other portions of Minnesota and a few to other states in the United States. One exports to Canada. (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Prior Lake Rest of Scott County In the rest of the Metro area In the rest of the State In the rest of the United States Outside the United States where % - % % - % % % 100% A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 3 8. What major supplies, services, raw materials does your business purchase? Again conclusions could not be derived from the percentage responses. An indicator is that the vast majority of materials and/or supplies purchased come from locations outside of Prior Lake and Scott Co. The EDA and City Council should treat this issue seriously if economic development and retention remains a priority. Of the supplies purchase in Prior Lake, office supplies was the first on the list. Supply or service used. Percentage purchased within Prior Scott Rest of Rest of Outside Lake County Minn. U.S. U.S. (a) (b) (c) % % % % % % %_% %_% %_% % % % 9. Please indicate where your employees live. (Estimate the percentage to the nearest 10 percent.) Again, very difficult to form actual conclusions with a percentage response. In general, the majority of the employees that work in Prior Lake, live in Prior Lake. That has been a goal of the EDAfor several years and it appears to be working. Housing issues later on however indicate that the city could be doing better in encouraging affordable housing to meet the employer's needs. The remainder of the employees are almost equally divided between south of the river cities and north of the river cities with the north of the river cities getting the slightly higher edge. This is an indicator of the "reverse commute" trend when lack of affordable housing is available in the city in which the business is located. Percent (1) Prior Lake (2) Savage - (3) Shakopee (4) Burnsville - (5) Belle Plaine/Jordan - (6) Eden Prairie, Bloomington BumsvillelRichfield - (7) Minneapolis/St. Paul (8) Other - A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 4 10. How many employees work at this location? The survey results listed are employees added or subtracted over the past five years. One business reported a reduction in one area an unskilled area and an increase in the skilled area. That was factored into the results. While trends can be derivedfrom this result, it is important to note that the one business that could have influenced these results dramatically did not respond to the survey request. The trend was to increase the employee-hiring base over the past five years and the response to question #6 indicates that the trend is anticipated to continue. Three businesses lacked the five-year data and therefore were not included in the survey results. Currently Five years ago +32 +99 Skilled Clerical Professional/ Management + 123 +40 +96 Unskilled Semi-skilled 11. Do you expect the number of employees you have in each of the following categories to increase, decrease or stay the same over the next three years? (circle one for each) With this question, inconclusive has to be used. For most of the respondents, actual numbers were used but other used percentage increases and not knowing the size of the business, actual figures were impossible to ascertain. Again, as is mentioned in questions 6 andJO, there is a needfor additional employees NOW, at most of the businesses surveyed. While the one business in question 10 said that a decrease in one unskilled and an increase in one skilled employee had taken place, all businesses now plan increases in all levels. Increase Stay the Decrease By How Many? Same (1) Unskilled employees (4) (12) (I) (2) Semi-skilled employees (10) (13) (I) (3) Skilled employees (21) (6) (I) (4) Clerical employees (17) (13) (I) (5) Professional/Management (14) (15) (I) (6) Temporary/contract employees (7) (3) (I) (7) Other (I) 12.a Does your company have problems recruiting employees in the following categories? (Circle one per line) This is a very strong survey response. For those businesses responding in the affirmative, 22 out of22 respondents sighted the lack of qualifiedjob applicants in the area for ALL job levels. One of the 22 respondents indicated that because of the price of his product ,he felt that it was impossible for him to hire any new employees and yet to raise his prices any more would provide incentives for customers to got 0 larger competitors outside of the city. Other businesses sighted lack of "qualified" job applicants, lack of "skilled" employees and others a general lack of any applicants. A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 5 Category Yes No Unsure Unskilled employees (8) (13) Semi-skilled employees (9) (11) Skilled employees (19) (12) Clerical employees (13) (12) Professional/management (14) (14) 12.b Ifvou answered "Yes" to any of the categories above, please explain the nature of this problem. This is covered in question 12a. Category Nature ofthe problem 13. What is the average starting hourly wage paid to employees in each category? These are averages from all of the respondents. Factors that could not help in the survey was that one skilled response was "commission ", a Clerical response was "salary and seven Professional/Management responses were either "salary or commission ". Unskilled Semi-skilled Skilled Clerical Professional! Management $7.33 $9.56 $13.33 $10.08 $17.29 14.a Are there any major technological innovations on the horizon in your industry that might affect your company? YES* (21) NO** (8) NOT SURE** (10) *14.b If"Yes", what are these? Out of the 14 responses, half (7) mentioned the impact of the Internet on their business plans. The remainder indicated modernization of their specific trade tools, training and computerization. *14.c If"Yes", will these new technologies require retaining of your labor force? YES (13) NO (5) **14.d If "No or Not Sure", skip to question 15. A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 6 15. In which of the following would your firm be interested? (circle all that apply) (1) Collaborating with other businesses in training employees (e.g., (11) providing space, equipment, or resource people for training of students and/or joint training of workers. (2) Serving as an apprenticeship site? (20) (3) Receiving customized training programs through area technical colleges? (13) ( 4) Participating in mentoring programs for area high school students? (21) (5) Serving on a local school advisory committee? (10) (6) Offering training to members of other organizations, such as schools and (8) companies? (7) Serving on a two-year college advisory curriculum committee. (8) (8) Other (5) 16. Are you currently considering moving or closing this establishment? (circle one) (1) Considering moving. (12) (2) Considering closing. (3) Neither - If Neither skip to question 19. (20) 17. Why are you considering moving or closing? (circle all that are appropriate) Of those considering a move, most mention a crowded building or lack of available office space to expand to. Many have plans to move when their leases are up in 1 - 3 years time and from subsequent questions, the plan is to move out of Prior Lake unless office space can be found within the city. The city needs to note a lack of office space. Multiple responses to question 13 say that the City lacks a progressive viewpoint on the business climate. In most cases the respondent said that the city lacks a 'vision" or is not "progressive". Others said that the Prior Lake location is not a good location for their base of operation in relationship to the location of the majority of their customers. A:\Business Survey. doc. dot 7 (1) Changing market conditions. (2) (2) Overcrowded building. (8) (3) No land for expansion. (2) (4) Transportation problems. (1) (5) Crime/vandalism. (6) Low work productivity. (2) (7) Environmental (8) Rigid code enforcement (including ordinances and building codes) (2) (9) High local taxes. (10) High state taxes. (11) Lease expiration. (2) (12) Poor telecommunications. (2) (13) Other (specify) (6) 18. Where are you considering relocating the establishment? (circle one) Of the respondents all mentioned either Savage or Shako pee as to where they are planning to move to, except one who mentioned Bloomington and another who mentioned a "central Scott County location ". (1) Prior Lake (2) (2) Another city in this county (specify city) (6) (3) Another county in the state (specify city and state) ( 4) Another state (specify city and state) (5) Abroad (specify city and nation) (6) Undecided 19.a Do you have any plans to modernize or expand your present building(s) or equipment? ( circle) YES* (1) (26) NO** (2) (19) A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 8 19.b *If "Yes" what is planned? Of those responding YES, the vast majority indicated a desire to expand the existingfacility they are located in currently with many more indicating that modernization of equipment is their top priority. Of those responding NO, it was mentioned that the modernization or expansion would be too expensive. Two of the respondents hadjust completed their expansion and did not foresee and immediate need for future expansion. 19.c *If "Yes", when will the work begin? Year Only two responses to this but both indicated in 2000 or 2001. ** If "No", skip to question 21. 19. What impact will the expansion or modernization of your present buildings have on the number of employees? (circle one the left, and if you answer 2 or 3, answer the jobs question) While we have positive trends for previously answered questions, this too must be termed" inconclusive" in actual numbers of employees affected. Some of the respondents answered with percentages instead of actual numbers. It is important to note that once again there is no indication of a reduction in employee amounts. (1) (10)No change (2) (7) Adds employees - About how many jobs will be added? _ Jobs (3) Reduces employees - About how many jobs will be lost? _ Jobs 21. Has you firm expanded elsewhere in the last five years? YES * (9) NO (32) *If"Yes", why? Most of the respondents indicated that expansion outside of Prior Lake has been in response to a shifting in the customer base or better locations to serve customers. Others expanded to other locations due to lack of available land or office space adequate to meet their needs. A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 9 22. Are there any other changes in your business plans for the next three years? (circle all that apply) The responses to the OTHER part of this question tell a lot. Two of the OTHER responses indicate a need to move due to lack of space, a poor customer base and lack of cooperation with the city. Another potential business loss indicated that thy will be leaving the city because of the lack of support of Prior Lake business. During this interview it was noted that the lack of support was primarily directed to the City Government but also to the Prior Lake residents who continue to flow out of the city to purchase products or services that are available within the city limits. Still one other sighted the lack of a positive image for the city but that the entryway monuments are a beginning and that downtown redevelopment would be a gigantic leap forward. (1) (9) No change in operations - If No Change skip to question 32. (2) (ll)Change in mix of goods/services (3) (8) Additions or subtraction of product lines (4) (6) Change production technology (5) (8) Other 23. What impact will your answer from question 22 have on the number of employees? (circle on the left, and if you circle 2 or 3, answer the jobs question) Again this has to be inconclusive in that Y.t of the respondents answered with percentages. It is important to note however that there are only increases planned except for those planning on leaving the city. (1)(9) No change (2) (16)Adds employees - About how many jobs will be added? (3) Reduces employees - About how many jobs will be lost? _jobs _jobs 24. In the community in which your business is located, are the following business cost higher, lower, or about the same as for your direct competitors from other communities? (circle one for each cost factor) Business cost factors Lower Same Higher a) Wage rates (4) (30) (3) b) Transportation costs (5) (26) (6) c) Energy costs (1) (28) (7) d) Local taxes (2) (19) (14) e) State taxes (25) (12) t) Interest rates (1) (19) (14) g) Worker's compensation rates (1) (32) (5) h) Unemployment insurance (1) (29) (5) i) Employee health care costs (28) (7) A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 10 24. In Prior Lake, are the following other business factors more favorable, less favorable or about the same as for your competitors from other communities? (circle one for each factor) In looking at the responses to questions 23 and 24, the results provide us with a status report and then provide us with a list that the city needs to look into. These two questions can be used a guidelines or as a report card. Less More Other business factors Favorable Same Favorable a) Availability of labor (7) (27) (2) b) Availability of raw material (5) (28) c) Availability of credit (2) (31) (1) d) Proximity of four lane highway (5) (27) (3) e) Airport facilities (13) (23) (2) f) Availability of industrial site (23) (15) (2) g) Quality of telecommunications (10) (20) (2) h) Availability of housing (9) (16) i) Other (1) (2) 26. In Prior Lake, how would you rate the following community services? (Circle one for each service) The report card continues in this question. Of particular interest should be those responses termed VERY POOR. The VERY POOR responses included multiple indicators on the lack of continual education in the area, including vocational, trade, colleges, and special education classes. The individual responses to the Ambulance and Health Care question appear to be from personal experiences although never elaborated upon. The other VERY POOR responses were from the Building Code, Building Inspectors and water quality. On the positive side, police andfire protection continue to receive very positive reviews. Especially high on the list however are the recreational opportunities afforded by the city's Parks and Recreation Department. This is especially important to note that while most of the time the city figures the Parks and Recreational opportunities affect only residents, the businesses now have said that those are amenities are important to them as well. To receive very positive reviews from the residential survey and business survey is a very important fact to keep in mind. The "city services" including street repair and snow removal also received positive reviews while the codes and enforcement of the codes were viewed somewhat less favorably. A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 11 Very Community Service Excellent Good Fair Poor Poor a) Day Care 5 16 4 2 b) Elementary and secondary schools 7 16 7 2 2 c) Vocational schools 1 7 3 2 8 d) Higher education 2 3 6 4 8 e) Community festivals 8 15 11 3 f) Recreational facilities 16 20 2 g) Ambulance services 13 15 3 2 h) Health carelhospitals 10 18 2 2 i) Fire protection 15 20 1 j) Police protection 15 18 2 2 k) Street maintenance 8 21 5 2 I) Snow removal 7 17 8 1 m) Zoning 2 9 11 6 4 n) Utilities 4 17 9 0) Building code 1 12 13 4 p) Availability of housing 4 19 5 5 q) Other (specify) 1 3 27. What is your overall opinion of your community as a place to conduct business in? (circle one) (9) (15) (12) (1 fair to poor) (1) Excellent (2) Good (3) Fair (4) Poor (5) Very Poor 28. What is your overall opinion of your community as a place to live in? (circle one) (12) (22) (4) (1) Excellent (2) Good (3) Fair (4) Poor (5) Very Poor 29. We have covered a lot of issues. Help us set some priorities and let us know a couple of key issues we should focus on to help your firm and help all of our existing firms grow and expand. Business respondents had a lot to say in this area and many combined their comments into one instead of two responses. The responses are attached below. All responses are verbatim. The responses have been grouped and are in no particular order or importance. Help your firm: Help all businesses in the community: A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 12 . City Hall should be more business friendly. . Let change happen to this town-City Fathers not too open to change-Too parochial. . City Hall should establish an "Omni Busmen" with City Hall and City Officials. . "Omni Busmen" - Poor business in City Hall. . Form a relationship between the City and businesses. . Hire an Economic Development Director. . Hire an EDA Director. . Address policymaking and how it will impact the businesses affected by downtown re-development. . Move more businesses into downtown and less outside. . Better and more frequent communication with the business owners. . More cooperation with City Hall / City Officials. . Less interference/restrictions by City with businesses. . Do not over-regulate & building code businesses [planning on) improvement or expansion. . Greater efficiency in the permitting process. . Work as a team, business-residential-government working together. . Use seminars dealing with customer service. . Need to be more pro-business. . Tax Increment cooperation. . Bring more businesses to Prior Lake. . Support local businesses. . Be supportive of local businesses. . Be accountable as a way to lower taxes. . Increase the perception of value of services received by taxpayer. If the "feel" of the value is there, then the taxes aren't a problem. . Help citizens understand that we are a full service community. Businesses in this community not only pay taxes but contribute a lot in other ways as well. We need citizen support. . Build 'Allies" to tell the City's story- Build Allies with the newspaper. . Keep downtown clean and enforce the codes! . Give a good image of Prior Lake, physical and representative. . Have a meeting with downtown redevelopment consultants before anything is finalized . Ditch the sloppy image-Priordale Mall & area downtown businesses, EZ Stop, weeds & sidewalks. . Renovate downtown and make it a more pleasant place to do business. . Redevelop downtown and Priordale Mall. . Redevelop Priordale Mall site. There should be support for an anchor tenant such as Shopko, Walmart or similar. . Need a more progressive view on growth. . Be more progressive. A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 13 · Have fluid & flexible land use codes. . Realize that we have some natural limitations as a city. . Highway access and visibility. · Highway access and flow on 13 & 42 - no turn lanes. . When doing street improvements, include business needs. . Access to our building. · Ensure future access from 13 is easy-acceptable downtown redevelopment. · Keep a balanced housing market, including rentals for young & old. · Review City Policy on wireless towers based on consumer needs in this city. . Schools need to sell themselves. A:\Business Survey.doc.dot 14 Preliminary City of Prior Lake EDA Survey Results Before beginning, I want to emphasize that this discussion is merely a preliminary discussion of the results from surveys currently on hand. There are still more to be completed which will have an influence on final survey results. Once all surveys have been returned, a more in-depth report will be forthcoming. . Surveyors had some difficulty in conducting the interviews and/or acqumng completed survey results due to the busy schedules of both the surveyors as well as the business owners/managers. This indicates a positive trend in the nature of business being conducted in Prior Lake today. . Many surveys commented that this was good to have contacted them and to be recognized as an important entity in the City. Some commented that now that the initial step has been taken the City should continue the effort and let the public no more about the services and products offered within the City of Prior Lake. . While 50 surveys were distributed and re-distributed, the end result may only consist of between 43 - 46 due to a variety of reasons through no fault of the EDA or City Staff. . Every business, except one, that responded to the question of whether additional hiring was anticipated or not answered in the affirmative or stability in staffing. The one that noted a decrease noted it in an un-skilled position but anticipated hiring between two and three in skilled positions. . All business that responded to another question also noted that there was a very short labor market and that it is extremely difficult to add additional, qualified staff at this time. Many noted that lack of available affordable housing in the City. . Many businesses reported they anticipate expanding within the next year to three years but also noted a lack of commercial land in the City as well as a lack of available office space. Office space appears to be a very critical factor in maintaining our current business base as well as attracting new businesses. . The Internet and computer technologies were very important factors in determining in which direction the business future will take them. . A few comments cited the City as lacking a progressive vision of the future, which inhibits business expansion or attraction. Image becomes an important factor to many especially, in regards to downtown re-development plans and Priordale Mall. Other comments advised the City to improve its physical image as well as its business image. None of the surveys indicated that the current condition of downtown was acceptable as it stands today. It was also cited that the City, County and State must recognize the roadway configuration at State Hwy 13 and Scott County 23 as a potential site for future commercial expansion. This area was also noted in interviews as an area that needs help in road design for the current businesses. After tabulating this preliminary survey result, it became obvious that this survey must be conducted again within three years and with questions that permit an easier crosstie analysis of the answers received. It became difficult to analysis why responses may have been the way they were as the names of the businesses were purposely removed from the returned surveys. I would also recommend that the Preliminary City of Prior Lake EDA Survey Results survey be conducted in the fall or winter of 2002, as this appears to be a better time to schedule interview appointments. There weren't any shocking details in the surveys received so far. The lack of commercia11and, lack of available employees, lack of available housing, and lack of business space are all factors that we have been dealing with for many years. As soon as the remaining results are returned and tabulated, a greater in depth report will be submitted to the EDA and City Council.