Greater Newport Business Survey

About Your Business

This survey is being conducted by the Newport County Chamber of Commerce to inform the development of Connect Greater Newport, a regional economic development initiative. The survey results will be used to develop both a 5-year strategic plan for the initiative, as well as the implementation of a business support program. As part of this effort, we are coordinating closely with many of the industry association, as well as Commerce RI*.

Please do your best to answer each question. If, for some reason you feel compelled not to answer a question, its fine to skip it without explanation. However, your answers provide us with valuable information, and the more comprehensive this information is, the better we can serve the needs of the region's businesses.

Confidentiality - Your individual answers will not be shared publicly. Your response will be summarized with those of others to produce an overall result in percentages or averages. However, as we establish a business calling program, we would greatly appreciate the opportunity to visit your business to learn more about how we can be of assistance.

*Please note that if you have received a business retention and expansion interview request from Commerce RI, that this is a separate, but aligned, effort.

1. About You

Your name

Business name

Street address

City/Town

Zip Code *This question is required.

Email address

Website

2. Are you a member of the Newport County Chamber of Commerce? (We won't hold it against you if you aren't - we just have a couple more questions if you are!)

3. What types of opportunities for professional development and education would you like to see more of? (Check all that apply.)

Credited courses and workshops
Networking opportunities
Job placement events
Guest speaker events
Seminars
Private or closed group chats / social media groups
More Facebook Live, live chats, blog and vlog (educational and/or informational)

3. Which programs or events are the most valuable to you and your business? (Check all that apply.)

3. Do you feel that our current forms of communications keep you, as a Member, sufficiently apprised of what the Chamber is doing, involved with, and offering?

3. Please tell us how you prefer to receive communication from the Chamber. (Check all that apply.)

Email
Mailed postcard invitations
Printed flyers and calendars at the Chamber office and invoice inserts
Social media updates
Website
E-Communications (E-news, At-a-Glance, Member Exchange)
I am interested in new forms of communication, such as an app

3. Do you find our website and its current system of event registration and other interaction to be user friendly?

3. Do you find our websites process of making user edits and updates to business profiles on our website to be user friendly?

3. Once Connect Greater Newport establishes a business calling program, may we contact you in regards to your survey answers?

4. Are you interested in more opportunities for marketing and advertising with the Chamber? If so, which options would you find to be valuable? (Check all that apply.)

Website banner ads
Website pop up ads
Sponsored social media posts
Enhanced listings in our Member Directory (web and print)
Program and series sponsorship opportunities
Annual event sponsorship opportunities
Not interested in advertising or sponsorship at this time

5. Which category best describes your business? *This question is required.

6. Is your business locally owned?

7. If no, where is your corporate headquarters located?

7. Does your business have multiple locations?

8. Where are they located, and what function do they perform?

Labor Force

8. Please estimate how many workers (including yourself) are employed at this location.

	Full Time	Part Time	Seasonal	Temp Employees
	Full Time	Part Time	Seasonal	Temp Employees	Currently	Full Time	Part Time	Seasonal	Temp Employees
Three years ago	Full Time	Part Time	Seasonal	Temp Employees

9. If the number of employees increased from three years ago, please identify up to 3 reasons why.

10. Are you expecting to increase or decrease employees at this location in the next 1 - 3 years?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.
Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

11. What are 3 of your top challenges in hiring and retaining new employees?

12. What resources are you currently using to locate new employees?

Future Location Decisions

13. Are you currently considering:

Downsizing
Selling
Merging with or acquiring another business
Moving
Closing
Expanding - at this location
Expanding - adding another location
None of the above
Other - Write In Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

14. If you said in the last questions that you are considering downsizing, selling, moving, or closing, what are the reason? (check all that apply)

14. If moving or expanding to another location, where are you considering?

In the same municipality as currently located
Another municipality in this county (specify) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.
Another county in the state (specify municipality and county) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.
Another state (specify municipality and state) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.
Outside of the United States (specify country) Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.
Undecided

14. If not expanding your business, what is the single biggest factor or issue preventing you from doing so?

How would you rate the following business factors in the Greater Newport region?

Workforce

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor
	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region: Excellent: Option 1	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region: Good: Option 1	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region: Fair: Option 1	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region: Poor: Option 1	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region: Very Poor: Option 1
Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions	Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions: Excellent: Option 1	Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions: Good: Option 1	Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions: Fair: Option 1	Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions: Poor: Option 1	Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions: Very Poor: Option 1
Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.)	Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.): Excellent: Option 1	Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.): Good: Option 1	Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.): Fair: Option 1	Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.): Poor: Option 1	Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.): Very Poor: Option 1
Access to training to up-skill existing workforce	Access to training to up-skill existing workforce: Excellent: Option 1	Access to training to up-skill existing workforce: Good: Option 1	Access to training to up-skill existing workforce: Fair: Option 1	Access to training to up-skill existing workforce: Poor: Option 1	Access to training to up-skill existing workforce: Very Poor: Option 1

Copy of Workforce

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor
	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region: Excellent: Option 1	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region: Good: Option 1	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region: Fair: Option 1	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region: Poor: Option 1	Ability to attract qualified talent from outside of the region: Very Poor: Option 1
Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions	Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions: Excellent: Option 1	Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions: Good: Option 1	Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions: Fair: Option 1	Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions: Poor: Option 1	Preparedness of workforce coming from local education and training institutions: Very Poor: Option 1
Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.)	Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.): Excellent: Option 1	Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.): Good: Option 1	Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.): Fair: Option 1	Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.): Poor: Option 1	Cost of talent (wages, health care, etc.): Very Poor: Option 1
Access to training to up-skill existing workforce	Access to training to up-skill existing workforce: Excellent: Option 1	Access to training to up-skill existing workforce: Good: Option 1	Access to training to up-skill existing workforce: Fair: Option 1	Access to training to up-skill existing workforce: Poor: Option 1	Access to training to up-skill existing workforce: Very Poor: Option 1

Education and Training

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor
	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	K- 12 Schools	K- 12 Schools: Excellent: Option 1	K- 12 Schools: Good: Option 1	K- 12 Schools: Fair: Option 1	K- 12 Schools: Poor: Option 1	K- 12 Schools: Very Poor: Option 1
Higher education	Higher education: Excellent: Option 1	Higher education: Good: Option 1	Higher education: Fair: Option 1	Higher education: Poor: Option 1	Higher education: Very Poor: Option 1
Technical training programs	Technical training programs: Excellent: Option 1	Technical training programs: Good: Option 1	Technical training programs: Fair: Option 1	Technical training programs: Poor: Option 1	Technical training programs: Very Poor: Option 1

Transportation/Location

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor
	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Highway accessibility	Highway accessibility: Excellent: Option 1	Highway accessibility: Good: Option 1	Highway accessibility: Fair: Option 1	Highway accessibility: Poor: Option 1	Highway accessibility: Very Poor: Option 1
Proximity to major markets	Proximity to major markets: Excellent: Option 1	Proximity to major markets: Good: Option 1	Proximity to major markets: Fair: Option 1	Proximity to major markets: Poor: Option 1	Proximity to major markets: Very Poor: Option 1
Proximity to raw materials	Proximity to raw materials: Excellent: Option 1	Proximity to raw materials: Good: Option 1	Proximity to raw materials: Fair: Option 1	Proximity to raw materials: Poor: Option 1	Proximity to raw materials: Very Poor: Option 1
Proximity to service suppliers	Proximity to service suppliers: Excellent: Option 1	Proximity to service suppliers: Good: Option 1	Proximity to service suppliers: Fair: Option 1	Proximity to service suppliers: Poor: Option 1	Proximity to service suppliers: Very Poor: Option 1
Railroad service	Railroad service: Excellent: Option 1	Railroad service: Good: Option 1	Railroad service: Fair: Option 1	Railroad service: Poor: Option 1	Railroad service: Very Poor: Option 1
Passenger air service	Passenger air service: Excellent: Option 1	Passenger air service: Good: Option 1	Passenger air service: Fair: Option 1	Passenger air service: Poor: Option 1	Passenger air service: Very Poor: Option 1
Freight air service	Freight air service: Excellent: Option 1	Freight air service: Good: Option 1	Freight air service: Fair: Option 1	Freight air service: Poor: Option 1	Freight air service: Very Poor: Option 1
Quality of roads and bridges	Quality of roads and bridges: Excellent: Option 1	Quality of roads and bridges: Good: Option 1	Quality of roads and bridges: Fair: Option 1	Quality of roads and bridges: Poor: Option 1	Quality of roads and bridges: Very Poor: Option 1
Transit options/ accessibility	Transit options/ accessibility: Excellent: Option 1	Transit options/ accessibility: Good: Option 1	Transit options/ accessibility: Fair: Option 1	Transit options/ accessibility: Poor: Option 1	Transit options/ accessibility: Very Poor: Option 1

Land, Buildings, and Credit

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor
	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Availability of appropriate space	Availability of appropriate space: Excellent: Option 1	Availability of appropriate space: Good: Option 1	Availability of appropriate space: Fair: Option 1	Availability of appropriate space: Poor: Option 1	Availability of appropriate space: Very Poor: Option 1
Availability of land	Availability of land : Excellent: Option 1	Availability of land : Good: Option 1	Availability of land : Fair: Option 1	Availability of land : Poor: Option 1	Availability of land : Very Poor: Option 1
Cost of land	Cost of land: Excellent: Option 1	Cost of land: Good: Option 1	Cost of land: Fair: Option 1	Cost of land: Poor: Option 1	Cost of land: Very Poor: Option 1
Cost of buildings	Cost of buildings: Excellent: Option 1	Cost of buildings: Good: Option 1	Cost of buildings: Fair: Option 1	Cost of buildings: Poor: Option 1	Cost of buildings: Very Poor: Option 1
Availability of loans	Availability of loans: Excellent: Option 1	Availability of loans: Good: Option 1	Availability of loans: Fair: Option 1	Availability of loans: Poor: Option 1	Availability of loans: Very Poor: Option 1
Cost of loans	Cost of loans: Excellent: Option 1	Cost of loans: Good: Option 1	Cost of loans: Fair: Option 1	Cost of loans: Poor: Option 1	Cost of loans: Very Poor: Option 1

Utilities

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor
	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Energy cost (electric, natural gas)	Energy cost (electric, natural gas): Excellent: Option 1	Energy cost (electric, natural gas): Good: Option 1	Energy cost (electric, natural gas): Fair: Option 1	Energy cost (electric, natural gas): Poor: Option 1	Energy cost (electric, natural gas): Very Poor: Option 1
Energy reliability (electric, natural gas)	Energy reliability (electric, natural gas): Excellent: Option 1	Energy reliability (electric, natural gas): Good: Option 1	Energy reliability (electric, natural gas): Fair: Option 1	Energy reliability (electric, natural gas): Poor: Option 1	Energy reliability (electric, natural gas): Very Poor: Option 1
Telecommunications and broadband cost	Telecommunications and broadband cost: Excellent: Option 1	Telecommunications and broadband cost: Good: Option 1	Telecommunications and broadband cost: Fair: Option 1	Telecommunications and broadband cost: Poor: Option 1	Telecommunications and broadband cost: Very Poor: Option 1
Telecommunications and broadband reliability/spped	Telecommunications and broadband reliability/spped: Excellent: Option 1	Telecommunications and broadband reliability/spped: Good: Option 1	Telecommunications and broadband reliability/spped: Fair: Option 1	Telecommunications and broadband reliability/spped: Poor: Option 1	Telecommunications and broadband reliability/spped: Very Poor: Option 1
Water availability	Water availability: Excellent: Option 1	Water availability: Good: Option 1	Water availability: Fair: Option 1	Water availability: Poor: Option 1	Water availability: Very Poor: Option 1
Water cost	Water cost: Excellent: Option 1	Water cost: Good: Option 1	Water cost: Fair: Option 1	Water cost: Poor: Option 1	Water cost: Very Poor: Option 1

Quality of Life

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor
	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Cost of living	Cost of living: Excellent: Option 1	Cost of living: Good: Option 1	Cost of living: Fair: Option 1	Cost of living: Poor: Option 1	Cost of living: Very Poor: Option 1
Recreational opportunities	Recreational opportunities: Excellent: Option 1	Recreational opportunities: Good: Option 1	Recreational opportunities: Fair: Option 1	Recreational opportunities: Poor: Option 1	Recreational opportunities: Very Poor: Option 1
Cultural opportunities	Cultural opportunities: Excellent: Option 1	Cultural opportunities: Good: Option 1	Cultural opportunities: Fair: Option 1	Cultural opportunities: Poor: Option 1	Cultural opportunities: Very Poor: Option 1
Social organizations and networks	Social organizations and networks: Excellent: Option 1	Social organizations and networks: Good: Option 1	Social organizations and networks: Fair: Option 1	Social organizations and networks: Poor: Option 1	Social organizations and networks: Very Poor: Option 1
Housing supply	Housing supply: Excellent: Option 1	Housing supply: Good: Option 1	Housing supply: Fair: Option 1	Housing supply: Poor: Option 1	Housing supply: Very Poor: Option 1
Housing costs	Housing costs: Excellent: Option 1	Housing costs: Good: Option 1	Housing costs: Fair: Option 1	Housing costs: Poor: Option 1	Housing costs: Very Poor: Option 1
Health care facilities	Health care facilities: Excellent: Option 1	Health care facilities: Good: Option 1	Health care facilities: Fair: Option 1	Health care facilities: Poor: Option 1	Health care facilities: Very Poor: Option 1
Availability of child care	Availability of child care: Excellent: Option 1	Availability of child care: Good: Option 1	Availability of child care: Fair: Option 1	Availability of child care: Poor: Option 1	Availability of child care: Very Poor: Option 1

Government and Regulation

	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor
	Excellent	Good	Fair	Poor	Very Poor	Local permitting process	Local permitting process: Excellent: Option 1	Local permitting process: Good: Option 1	Local permitting process: Fair: Option 1	Local permitting process: Poor: Option 1	Local permitting process: Very Poor: Option 1
Local property taxes	Local property taxes : Excellent: Option 1	Local property taxes : Good: Option 1	Local property taxes : Fair: Option 1	Local property taxes : Poor: Option 1	Local property taxes : Very Poor: Option 1
Other local taxes and fees	Other local taxes and fees: Excellent: Option 1	Other local taxes and fees: Good: Option 1	Other local taxes and fees: Fair: Option 1	Other local taxes and fees: Poor: Option 1	Other local taxes and fees: Very Poor: Option 1
Budget process and financial management	Budget process and financial management: Excellent: Option 1	Budget process and financial management: Good: Option 1	Budget process and financial management: Fair: Option 1	Budget process and financial management: Poor: Option 1	Budget process and financial management: Very Poor: Option 1
Code enforcement	Code enforcement : Excellent: Option 1	Code enforcement : Good: Option 1	Code enforcement : Fair: Option 1	Code enforcement : Poor: Option 1	Code enforcement : Very Poor: Option 1
Planning and zoning	Planning and zoning: Excellent: Option 1	Planning and zoning: Good: Option 1	Planning and zoning: Fair: Option 1	Planning and zoning: Poor: Option 1	Planning and zoning: Very Poor: Option 1
Environmental regulations	Environmental regulations: Excellent: Option 1	Environmental regulations: Good: Option 1	Environmental regulations: Fair: Option 1	Environmental regulations: Poor: Option 1	Environmental regulations: Very Poor: Option 1

15. Please feel free to leave any other thoughts on opportunities that you would like to see the region better leverage and barriers to economic growth that need to be mitigated.