HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.2a BR&E Survey 2020Cottage
Grove •�
-zPer�tY Meet * 1
City of Cottage Grove
Business Retention and Expansion (BR&E)
Interview Guide
COMPANY INFORMATION
Company Name:
Contact Name/Email:
Visit Date:
Interviewers:
BUSINESS AND FACILITY DETAILS:
Primary Business Sector?
Type of facility (select all that apply):
❑ Branch ❑ Distribution ❑ Franchise ❑ Headquarters ❑ Home-based ❑ Manufacturing ❑
R&D
❑ Sales -Office
Is this facility owned or leased? Owned Leased
Does company have a succession plan? YES NO
Has the company ownership changed? YES NO
Or is change imminent? YES NO
Explain:
Over the past year, have company sales (select one):
❑ Increased ❑ Decreased ❑ Been relatively stable ❑ Fluctuated widely ❑ Not
identified
What has contributed to the increase or decrease in sales?
PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
What are the company's major products and services?
Has this company introduced new products? YES NO
Briefly describe new products:
1IPage
Cottage
Grove •�
-zPer�tY Meet * 1
EMPLOYMENT AND WORKFORCE
How many full-time employees are at this facility?
What is the average hourly starting wage paid to employees in each department?
Has the number of employees at this facility changed in the past year (select one):
❑ Increased ❑ Decreased ❑ Stayed the same
If increased, how many employees have been hired in the past year?
In the next year, do you expect the number of jobs at facility to (select one):
❑ Increase ❑ Decrease ❑ Be relatively stable ❑ Unsure
Do you plan to hire in the next 2-5 years? YES NO
If yes, how many employees do you anticipate hiring? _
What types of jobs are you hiring?
If you have hired in the past year, was it hard to fill positions? YES NO
What contributed to the challenges in filling open positions? (select all that apply):
❑ Poor work ethic ❑ Lack of basic education ❑ Lack of technical skills ❑ Lack of candidates
❑ Challenging location ❑ Competition ❑ Other
Do you anticipate needing to train existing employees: YES NO
What type of training is needed?
Does the community have enough housing and the right type of housing for your future employees?
YES NO
MARKET INFORMATION
Company's primary market (select one):
❑ International ❑ United States ❑ Midwest (including MN) ❑ Minnesota ❑ Local
21 Page
Cottage
Grove •�
-zPer�tY Meet * 1
Company's fastest growing geographic market (select one):
❑ International ❑ United States ❑ Midwest (including MN) ❑ Minnesota ❑ Local ❑ Not
identified
Do you export or have clients outside of the United States? YES NO
If so, where (select all that apply):
❑ Africa & Middle East ❑ Canada ❑ Europe & Russia ❑ Greater China ❑ India, Pakistan,
Central/South Asia
❑ Japan & Korea ❑ Southeast Asia ❑ Australia & Pacific Oceania ❑ Latin America &
Caribbean ❑ Mexico
❑ Other
Percent of sales outside of the US?
Are you interested in exporting or learning how to obtain clients outside of the U.S. (exporting)?
❑ Yes ❑No
INVESTMENT PLAN
Does the company plan to (check all that apply)
❑ Invest in new facilities ❑ Make major equipment purchase ❑ Renovate/Expand current
facilities
❑ None
Approximate date of investment (select one):
❑ Within one year ❑ Within two years ❑ Within three years ❑ Unsure
Do you currently have room on your site to expand? YES NO
If investing in new location, why (select all that apply)?
❑ Access to labor ❑ Access to markets ❑ Environmental permit obstacles ❑ High state taxes
❑ High local taxes ❑ Labor costs ❑ Lease expiration ❑ No room at this location ❑ Quality of
workforce
❑ Transportation/infrastructure ❑ Other
31 Page
* M Cottage
■-Grove
=i oSPerltY Meet * •
1
COMMUNITY
What are the strengths and weaknesses of the community?
Have you interacted with any of the departments at City Hall? If so, what department and please
describe your experience.
Are there any priority projects or initiatives the City should consider in order to enhance the business
climate?
How has or is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting your business and what resources do you need to
continue to operate efficiently in the community?
41 Page
MCottage
,t -
Grove
==ii oSPerltY Meet * •
1
Rank the local business climate: Community Rankings: 1 = Poor 5 =
Great
Education and Training
K-12
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Higher education
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Customized Training Programs
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Overall Workforce Quality
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Transportation/Location
Public Transportation
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Highway Infrastructure
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Air Service
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Proximity to Suppliers
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Quality of Life
Recreational Opportunities
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Cultural Opportunities
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Crime Rate
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Social Organizations and Networks
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Housing Supply for Workforce
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Local Access to Capital
Lending by local financial institutions
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Assistance from local governments and/or non -profits
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Local Business Support
Community attitude toward business
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Chamber of Commerce
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Economic Development Authority
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Local Government
Fire Department
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Police Department
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Planning and Zoning
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Code Enforcement
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Government and Regulations
Attitude towards business
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Local Taxes
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Localfees
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Utilities
Telecommunications/Broadband Service
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Telecommunications/Broadband Rates
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Electric Rates
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
Electric Reliability
1
2
3
4
5
n/a
51 Page
Cottage
�TP�deane Grove * ♦� � ��ty �Mho
__
POST DISCUSSION VISIT
Does this company require follow up? YES NO
If yes, what organization(s) should assist (select all that apply):
❑ City ❑ Chamber ❑ College ❑ State ❑ Workforce ❑ GREATER MSP ❑ Other
61 Page