HomeMy WebLinkAbout[07c] Business Retention and Expansion Surveys Administrator Date: June 13, 2012
•
Judy Weyrens Memo To: Members of the EDA
Mayor City Administrator Weyrens
Rick Schultz Memo From: Joanne Foust, MDG, Inc.
Councilors RE: Business Retention and Expansion Strategies
Steve Frank
Bob Loso
Renee Symanietz Background.
Dale Wick One of the goals for 2012 is business retention and expansion. In an effort to explore options to
EDA address this goal, U of M Extension Educator Adeel Ahmed attended the May EDA meeting and
provided information on BRE options available through the Extension Office in Central
Carolyn Yaggie— Minnesota.
Heinen
Chad Davey He noted specialized surveys are available for various industry sectors including manufacturing,
Steve Frank tourism, dairy, swine, farming, technology and mixed business. The categories most
Tom Skahen applicable to St. Joseph appear to be manufacturing and mixed business (manufacturing, retail
Dale Wick and service).
The Minnesota Extension BR &E Strategies Program suggests three major groups of volunteers:
• Leadership Team – 4 or 5 people who promote the program to the community,
coordinate task force meeting and organize follow -up to the survey results.
• Task Force - a group of local community leaders. It should include representatives of
business, government, education, economic development organizations and other
well- respected, influential community leaders. The Leadership Team is part of the
Task Force.
• Business Visitation Teams - two per team — visit two to four firms each. These
teams are made up of Task Force and Leadership Team members, educators,
business people, retirees, or other community members. The Task Force and
Leadership Team decides the number and types of firms visited.
According to the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development Dec. 2011
Statistics there are 123 businesses in St. Joseph, of which 120 are privately owned. If each
group visits four firms, we would need 30 Business Visitation Teams each visiting four
businesses or 60 volunteers, using the above program guidelines.
Options:
1. Engage the services of the services of the U of M Extension Service at a fee of $3000
to train the EDA to complete the BR & E process. This would need to be paid for
through the EDA's fund balance.
In order to simplify the process and ensure sufficient volunteers to implement the
survey program, the EDA may wish to serve as the Leadership Team and Task Force,
prioritize the categories of businesses to visit and phase the BRE program over a
couple of years. Volunteers could be sought to assist and serve on the "Business
Visitation Teams ".
According to the MN Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) a
majority of St. Joseph's businesses are in the trade, transportation and utility category, and the
majority of the employees and highest wages are in the education and health service category.
The EDA may wish to conduct business surveys with these industry categories first.
Following is the breakdown of the types of businesses in St. Joseph per DEED:
Average
Wage
# Employees Average # Per
Average Establishme Total Wages Week
NAICS title 2011 nts 2011 2011 2011
Total, All Industries 1,723 123 $ 59,266,302 660
Total, Private Industries 1,631 120 $ 54,462,533 640
Construction 140 23 $ 6,673,964 836
Manufacturing 48 6 $ 1,588,174 637
Trade, Transportation and Utilities 418 30 $ 12,331,867 566
Professional and Business Services 67 9 $ 1,025,834 297
Education and Health Services 611 12 $ 26,775,922 845
Leisure and Hospitality 164 15 $ 1,531,715 180
Other Services 145 16 $ 3,354,256 444
Public Administration 79 2 $ 4,238,163 1043
According to DEED, employment in St. Joseph increased from 1,705 employees in 2010 to
1,723 employees in 2011. While the number of business establishments decreased from 130 to
123, according to DEED reports.
2. Engage the Services of the U of M Extension Service to complete the full program at a
cost of $12.000. This would need to be included in the budget for 2013 and /or funded
through the EDA's fund balance.
3. On -line and /or mailed survey. While personal visits often are the most valuable with
face to face contact, they are labor /volunteer intensive. An alternative would be to
conduct a mailed and /or on -line survey and follow -up with personal visits with the
businesses that express a desire to meet or plans to expand or contract. This would
be a limited cost as the tallying and report are generated on a program such as
surveymonkey and EDA consultants could coordinate the mailings, with EDA members
conducting the limited visits. Enclosed is a sample survey. This is also available on-
line at: https: / /www.surveymonkey.com /s /StJosephBRE
Action:
The EDA is asked to provide direction on how to proceed with the BR & E program.
30
St. Joseph BRE
1. St. Joseph Business Retention Expansion Survey. The City of St. Joseph's Economic
Development Authority (EDA) requests business participation in this survey to assist us
with (1) identifying and understanding our local business climate, (2) learning about your
future business plans, (3) seeking your input on future economic development programs
and priorities and (4) allowing us to offer assistance to you. The results of this survey will
be reported to the public only in aggregate as percentages or averages. Your individual
responses and comments will remain anonymous. If you feel uncomfortable with any
question, please skip that question but respond to the remainder of the survey. Your
comments /responses will help us better serve our businesses! If you have any questions,
please contact EDA Consultant: Joanne Foust at 952 - 758 -7399 or toll free at: 1-888-763-
4462 or the City of St. Joseph at: 320 - 363 -7201. PLEASE COMPLETE BY MONDAY, July 30,
2012! Thank you for your participation!
- -- * Required
* 2. Company Name
*3. Company Mailing Address:
*4. Contact Person's Name:
5. Business Phone Number:
6. Email Address:
7. Company's web site address:
8. Would you like your company's web site address linked to the City of St. Joseph's on-
line business directory?
O Yes
O No
Page 1
3I
St. Joseph BRE
*9. Business or Industry Sector:
O Retail Business
O Service Industry
O Manufacturing /Warehouse
O Education
O Leisure and Hospitality
O Government/Public
O Non - profit
Other (please specify)
Please describe your business' products and services:
10. Business Information. Please select the one that best describes your business setting:
O Home -based business
O Own a commercial space
O Lease a commercial space
O Own an industrial building
O Lease an industrial space
Other (please specify)
11. Please describe your business' products and /or services:
•
12. How many years has your business been located in St. Joseph?
O 0 -5 years
O 6 -10 years
O 11 -15 years
O 16 -20 years
O 25+ years
Page 2
3 2-
St. Joseph BRE
13. What was your primary reason for locating your business in St. Joseph?
O Proximity to home.
O Location (proximity to metro)
O Affordable land /building
O Market need
O Quality workforce
Other (please specify)
14. What market does your business primarily serve?
O Local
O State
O Regional (5 -State Area)
O National
O International
15. What are the three (3) most positive aspects of having a business in St. Joseph?
I I L ocation (proximity to St. Cloud)
D Transportation Network
D Educational opportunities
I I E mployment base /labor force
I I A ffordable land /buildings
ri L • oyal Customer Base
Other (please specify)
16. What are the greatest challenges to operating a business in St. Joseph?
• Competition with businesses in St. Cloud and surrounding areas
• Unstable economy
• Lack of affordable housing for work force
• Mobility of the workforce
Other (please specify)
Page 3
33
St. Joseph BRE
17. Community Infrastructure - Please check any /all that you have concerns with:
Transportation for commuting employees
❑ Roadways within the city
Municipal Water
L___! Electric
❑ Gas (natural)
❑ Broadband Access
C Land Availability
O Building Availability
❑ Sanitary Sewer
❑ Storm Sewer
( Other (please specify)
t
18. If you noted a concern on the previous q uest ion , please describe in detail so we may
assist you.
19. Sales: Over the past three years have your company's sales:
O Increased
O Been stable
O Decreased
20. Complimentary Businesses. Are there any suppliers or services that you could benefit
from by having them located closer to your business?
O Yes
O N°
O Uncertain
Page 4
314
St. Joseph BRE
21. Business Recruitment
Please list any business (name or type) that you feel would be beneficial and feasible to
recruit to St. Joseph.
22. Future Business Plans. Is your current facility adequate for your business in the
future?
O Yes
O No
O Uncertain
23. Business Expansion /Relocation. If your current site is not sufficient, please describe
why. Also please describe the type and size of facility you would like.
24. Expansion Plans * Do you plan to relocate in the next three years?
O Yes
O No
O Uncertain
Page 5
St. Joseph BRE
25. Employment
How many full -time equivalent employees currently work at your St. Joseph location and
how many employees do you project in three years?
Current Employment Projected Employment in 3 years
1 -5 0
6 -10 0 0
11-20 O O
21 -30 O O
31-40 0 0
41 -50 0 O
51 -75 O 0
76-100 O O
101-200 O 0
201 -300 0 O
301+ ° 0 0
26. Payroll
What is the total annual estimated payroll of your company in St. Joseph? (optional)
O so - $100,000 per year
O $101,000 - $500,000 per year
O $500,001 -$1 million per year
O Over $1 million per year
27. Employee Commuting Patterns
What percent of your employees live within a 5 -mile radius of St. Joseph?
O o%
O 1 -15%
O 16 -30%
O 31-45%
O 46 -60%
O 61 - 75%
O 76 -90%
O 91 -100%
Page 6
3 1p
St. Joseph BRE
28. What are your office /store hours? Please select the opening and closing times for your
business on each day. If hours vary from options provided, please explain in the "other"
category.
Closed
7 a.m. 8 a.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m.11 a.m. 12 1 p.m. 2 p.m. 3 p.m. 4 p.m. 5 p.m. 6 p.m. 7 p.m. 8 p.m.
noon this day
00 n n r
Sunday ❑ .❑ I ❑l ❑ ) L I I ❑ I I L III El El El ,❑
Monday ❑ U ❑ I I ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑
Tuesday ❑ ❑ ❑ Q ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ' I ❑� ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ 11:1 Wednesday n El n I ❑ El El LJ ❑ ❑ El 111 ❑ ❑
Thursday ❑ ❑' n ❑ ❑ ❑ L ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ':
Friday I n ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ (❑�
Saturday I I n ❑ ❑ 1 1 ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ LJ
Other (please specify)
1
29. Are you a member of the Chamber of Commerce?
O Yes
O No
30. If you are not a member of the Chamber of Commerce, would you like information on
becoming a member?
O Yes
O No
31. Local Financing
The City offers a Facade Architectural Design Matching Grant Program. Are you interested
in using a loan for a project?
O Yes
O No
O Uncertain
32. The EDA is developing a marketing program. What three words or phrases would you
recommend as a part of "branding" St. Joseph?
1.
2.
3.
Page 7
3 7
St. Joseph BRE
33. Where do you feel the City's Econo Development Authority should focus its
efforts? Please rank the importance of the EDA's efforts on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 the
most important.
1 (lowest 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (highest
priority) priority)
Downtown Master Planning ❑ ❑ I I [ ❑ I ❑ E Complete a Downtown ❑ Li ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ I I
Parking Plan ri
Purchase rental houses i n n ❑ I I I I I I ❑ I I I '
downtown and demolish
Purchase commercial III
❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ II
buildings and prepare sites
for business development
Install a water feature in the III L ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑' 0 ❑
downtown
Install trail /sidwalks and ❑ ❑ l l ❑ I I ❑ ❑ ❑ Li ❑
pedestrian amenities to link
areas to the downtown
Industry /manufacturing C ' I ❑ El E C ❑ '
recruitment Li 0
Retail /commercial ❑ ❑
recruitment
Retention and expansion of c=1. E ❑ ❑ El ❑ E ❑ El [II
existing businesses
Other (please specify)
34. Do you have other suggestions to improve the economic climate in St. Joseph?
Page 8
3g