strongsville business retention and expansion survey, 2011

8/3/2019 Strongsville Business Retention and Expansion Survey, 2011

1/25

1

City of Strongsville:Business Retention & Expansion Survey 2011Results


2/25

2

NEWS RELEASE

August 17, 2011

City of Strongsville

Contact: Mayor Thomas P. Perciak(440) 580-3150

Mayor Thomas Perciak and Councilman Mike Daymut, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee,today announced the completion of the City of Strongsvilles Business Retention & Expansion Survey for

the year 2011.

Working closely with Ohio State Universitys BR&E Initiative, the purpose of the survey was to determine thevalue Strongsville businesses place on available amenities and services, as well as their satisfaction level in

those areas.

In April of 2011, the Strongsville, OH, Economic Development Committee sent the survey to 151 Strongsville

businesses and received 37 completed surveys for a strong return rate of 24.5% (survey response rate of 20% isconsidered very good).

The survey results indicated that 97% of businesses rated the City of Strongsville as a good to excellent

place to do business with 95% rating the overall quality of life in Strongsville as good to excellent. In

addition, 100% of respondents would recommend another business to locate in Strongsville.

The evaluation of City services and community amenities showed the following:

Strongsville Fire Department (100% of respondents ranked good to excellent) Strongsville Police Department (97%) Ehrnfelt Recreation Center (97%) Shopping (94%) Health Care Services (92%) Snow/Ice Removal (92%) Natural Gas Services (92%) Air Cargo/Shipping (89%) Street & Sidewalk Cleaning (89%) Business Services (89%) Strongsville School System (86%) Childcare Services (83%) Air Service (83%)

Local Roads & Freeway Access (81%) Water & Sewers (81%)

In addition, the respondents rated the following Development and Approval services as good to excellent:

Overall Development and Approval Process (81%) Plan Review (81%) Communication between the City and Business Owners (86%) The Department of Economic Development (94%)


3/25

3

The following factors ranked highest for the reasons why respondents companies located in Strongsville:

Proximity to Freeways (22%) Proximity to Home (14%) Access to Customers (10.6%) Workforce Availability (9%) Local Officials (8%) Quality of Life (6%)

The BR&E Survey also revealed that the business community within Strongsville expects continued

growth. Of the companies who completed the survey, over the next three years:

70.3% expect an increase in their Number of Customers 78% expect an increase in Total Revenue 68% expect an increase in Profits 64% expect an increase in their Total Number of Employees with no respondents indicating a

reduction of employees

David Civittolo, County Extension Director for Ohio State Universitys BR&EInitiative, adds an experts

insight on Strongsvilles survey process: The Survey results indicate that businesses not only believe inStrongsville, they would strongly encourage new business start-ups to open in the City. Prof Civittolo

continues: Between the high quality of life that residents enjoy and the overwhelming positive support of the

business community, it is quite evident that Strongsville is a community destination for others to consider.

Copies of the survey results will be available to the public on the Citys website atwww.strongsville.orgor

through the City of Strongsvilles Economic Development Departmentat (please [email protected] ). The results of the survey have been presented for review to Strongsville City

Council and to the Strongsville Board of Education.

Quality of Life Survey Task ForceThomas P. Perciak, Mayor

Richard L. Pinkerton, PhD., Taskforce Chair & Professor Emeritus, Calif. State Univ., FresnoMichael J. Daymut, Co-Chair, Council President, Ward One

Rea Cantwell, Executive Director, Strongsville Chamber of CommerceGreg Davis, Director, Ohio BR&E Program, Ohio State University

David Civittolo, County Extension Director, Ohio State UniversityBrent Painter, Manager of Economic Development, City of Strongsville

The Reverend Ron Mowry, Pastor, Strongsville United Methodist ChurchBarry R. Zimmerman, Executive Vice President, Edgerton, Corp.
http://www.strongsville.org/http://www.strongsville.org/http://www.strongsville.org/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.strongsville.org/


4/25

4

Survey Overview

Instructions Provided To Respondents

Answer only those questions with which you feel comfortable. If you require assistance please contact BrentPainter, Manager of Economic Development, City of Strongsville at (440) 580-3118 or via email at

[email protected]

Respondent Metrics

2011

Businesses Surveyed: 151

Respondents: 37Online Responses: 21

Hardcopy Responses: 16

First Response: 4/29/2011 06:21 PMLast Response: 6/30/2011 09:22 AM

Response Rate: 24.5%
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


5/25

5

Survey ResultsThe following is a tabular depiction of the responses to each survey question. Additional comments provided by

respondents, if any, are included after each table.

Section - A - LOCAL BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

1. What is your overall opinion of the City of Strongsville as a place to do business?

51.4% 19 Excellent

45.9% 17 Good2.7% 1 Average

2. What are your top three (3) reasons for locating or keeping your business in Strongsville?

22.1% 25 Proximity to freeways14.2% 16 Proximity to home

10.6% 12 Access to my customers8.8% 10 Workforce availability

8.0% 9 Local officials6.2% 7 Quality of life

5.3% 6 Financial incentives4.4% 5 Access to airport

4.4% 5 Safety services3.5% 4 Access to my suppliers

2.7% 3 Cost of doing business2.7% 3 Quality of housing

1.8% 2 Access to business support services (e.g., printing, advertising, financial services, hotels, etc.)1.8% 2 Access to downtown Cleveland

1.8% 2 Other:1.8% 2 Recreation facilities/entertainment

3. Would you recommend another business to locate in Strongsville?

100% 37 Yes

4. If no, why not?


6/25

6

Section - Please indicate whether you believe the cost of doing business in Strongsville is

high, acceptable, or low.

5. Land costs

75.0% 27 Acceptable25.0% 9 High

6. Building costs (rent)


2.9% 1 Low

7. Natural gas aggregation

90.9% 30 Acceptable

9.1% 3 High

8. Electrical aggregation

84.8% 28 Acceptable

15.2% 5 High

9. Labor costs


2.8% 1 Low

10. Health care insurance

55.9% 19 High

44.1% 15 Acceptable

11. Workers compensation


12. Real estate property taxes



7/25

7

13. City income taxes

68.6% 24 Acceptable

31.4% 11 High

14. Payroll taxes


15. Sales tax


16. Internet/Telecom


2.9% 1 Low


8/25


9/25

9

Section - From your perspective as a businessperson, please rate the following

WORKFORCE-RELATED amenities and services.

23. Pedestrian walkways

63.9% 23 Good22.2% 8 Average

11.1% 4 Excellent2.8% 1 Poor

24. Public transportation

36.1% 13 Average

30.6% 11 Good16.7% 6 Excellent

16.7% 6 Poor

25. Air service

45.7% 16 Good

37.1% 13 Excellent17.1% 6 Average

26. Health care services (EMS, hospitals, clinics)

48.6% 18 Excellent

43.2% 16 Good5.4% 2 Average2.7% 1 Poor

27. School system

45.9% 17 Excellent

40.5% 15 Good10.8% 4 Average

2.7% 1 Very Poor

28. Child care services

62.9% 22 Good



10/25

10

29. Restaurants

43.2% 16 Good


30. Professional services

51.4% 19 Good24.3% 9 Average

24.3% 9 Excellent

31. Shopping

54.3% 19 Excellent40.0% 14 Good

5.7% 2 Average

32. Recreation center

61.1% 22 Excellent


33. Cultural activities/entertainment


20.6% 7 Average11.8% 4 Poor

34. Air Cargo/Shipping

58.3% 21 Good

30.6% 11 Excellent

11.1% 4 Average


11/25

11

Section - From your perspective as a businessperson, please rate these other amenities

and services.

35. Snow and ice removal



36. Street and sidewalk cleaning

57.1% 20 Good


2.9% 1 Poor

37. Street repairs

36.1% 13 Good

30.6% 11 Average22.2% 8 Excellent

11.1% 4 Poor

38. Rubbish collection

52.9% 18 Good23.5% 8 Average23.5% 8 Excellent

39. Fire protection

54.3% 19 Good

45.7% 16 Excellent

40. Police protection

50.0% 18 Good


41. Business services


11.1% 4 Average


12/25

12

42. Hotel facilities

55.6% 20 Good25.0% 9 Average


2.8% 1 Very Poor

43. Conference facilities

47.2% 17 Good


5.6% 2 Poor


13/25

13

Section - DEVELOPMENT & APPROVAL PROCESS

44. Has your company constructed or leased a building that required the approval of the

City's Building Review and/or Planning process?

62.2% 23 Yes37.8% 14 No

Section - If yes, how would you rate the City's development and approval processes?

45. Overall process

57.1% 12 Good


4.8% 1 Poor4.8% 1 Very Poor

46. Plan review

57.1% 12 Good


4.8% 1 Poor

4.8% 1 Very Poor

47. Zoning regulations



4.8% 1 Very Poor

48. Building codes



5.0% 1 Very Poor


14/25

14

49. Planning Commission approval

55.0% 11 Good


5.0% 1 Poor

50. Engineering approval

57.9% 11 Good


5.3% 1 Poor

51. Architectural approval

52.6% 10 Good


5.3% 1 Poor

52. Fire Department approval



53. City Council approval

57.9% 11 Good21.1% 4 Average

21.1% 4 Excellent

54. Building Permit approval

50.0% 10 Good

25.0% 5 Excellent


5.0% 1 Very Poor

55. Communication between the City and business owners


9.5% 2 Average4.8% 1 Very Poor


15/25

15

56. Department of Economic Development

50.0% 9 Excellent


Section - Please note any additional comments.

57. Comments.

To protect the privacy of respondents, comments omitted from report.


16/25

16

Section - B - EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING

58. How many employees work at your Strongsville business location?

33.3% 12 21-50

27.8% 10 11-2013.9% 5 51-100

13.9% 5 More than 10011.1% 4 Fewer than 10

Section - How would you rate the regional MANAGEMENT and STAFF workforce (labor

pool)?

59. Quality (i.e, necessary skills & work ethic)

54.1% 20 Good


60. Quantity

45.9% 17 Good40.5% 15 Average

13.5% 5 Excellent

61. Availability

43.2% 16 Good37.8% 14 Average


62. Stability

43.2% 16 Good29.7% 11 Average

27.0% 10 Excellent


17/25

17

Section - How would you rate the regional LABOR FORCE (labor pool)?

63. Quality (i.e., necessary skills & work ethic)

67.6% 25 Good


2.7% 1 Poor

64. Quantity

56.8% 21 Good29.7% 11 Average


65. Availability

59.5% 22 Good29.7% 11 Average


66. Stability

56.8% 21 Good



18/25

18

Section - TRAINING

67. Please check the areas in which your current Strongsville employees need training.

24.2% 16 Current employees do not need training

15.2% 10 Computer skills (word-processing, database management, computer system installation/maintenance, etc.)12.1% 8 Customer service skills (interpersonal communications, product knowledge, etc.)

12.1% 8 Professional skills (sales, marketing, accounting, etc.)9.1% 6 Equipment operation skills

7.6% 5 General skills (basic math, reading/writing, problem solving, etc.)6.1% 4 Managerial skills (finance, business planning, employee management/relations, etc.)

6.1% 4 Mechanical skills6.1% 4 Other technical skills

1.5% 1 Other:

68. Please check the three (3) most preferred formats for employee training by outsideproviders.

20.9% 18 Partial day workshop19.8% 17 Web-based (online) training

15.1% 13 Customized on-site training12.8% 11 One-day seminar

11.6% 10 Programs offered by local colleges/universities8.1% 7 Self-study printed material

7.0% 6 Customized off-site training2.3% 2 Series of weekly classes

1.2% 1 Multi-day conference

1.2% 1 Series of daily classes


19/25

19

Section - C - FUTURE PLANS

69. Do you have any plans to modernize, renovate, or expand your business?

75.7% 28 No

24.3% 9 Yes

70. If yes, what kind of modernization, renovation, or expansion are you considering?

26.9% 7 Warehouse space23.1% 6 Office space

15.4% 4 Parking area11.5% 3 Expansion into adjacent space

11.5% 3 Manufacturing/production space7.7% 2 Adding another department, division or business

3.8% 1 Expansion by acquisition

71. When would the work be started?

40.0% 4 Between 7 - 12 months

20.0% 2 Between 1 - 3 years20.0% 2 More than 3 years

20.0% 2 Within 6 months

72. Do you face any constraints?

31.3% 5 No constraints18.8% 3 Insufficient space in existing building12.5% 2 Need physical facility planning assistance

12.5% 2 Parking issues6.3% 1 Need financial assistance

6.3% 1 Need information on city and/or state tax incentives6.3% 1 Not enough land for expansion

6.3% 1 Zoning and building regulations

73. Are you considering opening another facility (e.g., branch plant, office, division,

corporate headquarters, etc.)?80.6% 29 No

19.4% 7 Yes

74. If yes, when?

42.9% 3 Between 1 - 3 years28.6% 2 Between 7 - 12 months

14.3% 1 More than 3 years14.3% 1 Within 6 months


20/25

20

75. If yes, where?

50.0% 4 Outside Ohio, but in U.S.37.5% 3 Elsewhere in Strongsville

12.5% 1 Outside U.S.

76. If you are expanding in Strongsville, do you face any constraints?

22.2% 2 No constraints

11.1% 1 Insufficient space in existing building11.1% 1 Need information on city and/or state tax incentives

11.1% 1 Need physical facility planning assistance11.1% 1 Not enough land for expansion

11.1% 1 Other:11.1% 1 Parking issues

11.1% 1 Zoning and building regulations

77. Are you considering moving, closing, or selling this business?

97.1% 34 None of the above

2.9% 1 Considering selling

78. If you are considering moving, where would you move?

66.7% 2 Outside Cuyahoga County, but in Ohio

33.3% 1 Elsewhere in Cuyahoga County

79. If you are considering moving, why?100% 1 High taxes

80. When would you move, close, or sell this business?

50.0% 2 Between 1 - 3 years

50.0% 2 More than 3 years

81. What impact would your plans for modernization, renovation, expansion, moving,

closing, or selling have on the number of employees in your Strongsville location?

56.0% 14 No change

40.0% 10 Adds employees4.0% 1 Reduces employees

82. About how many employees would be added?


83. About how many employees would be reduced?



21/25

21

Section - D - GENERAL INFORMATION

84. What is your company's PRIMARY geographic market?

36.1% 13 National

25.0% 9 Northeast Ohio16.7% 6 International

16.7% 6 Statewide5.6% 2 Local

85. Which of the following best describes your position with your company?

35.1% 13 CEO/President/Managing Director

35.1% 13 Owner8.1% 3 General Manager/Manager

8.1% 3 Operations VP or Director

5.4% 2 COO, CFO, CIO, or CTO5.4% 2 Sales/Marketing VP or Director2.7% 1 Other:

86. How long has this business been operating at your current location?

30.6% 11 More than 20 years27.8% 10 6 - 10 years

22.2% 8 11 - 20 years19.4% 7 1 - 5 years

87. Which of the following best describes your business?

47.8% 22 Private

23.9% 11 Family-owned8.7% 4 Branch office of multi-unit firm

8.7% 4 Publicly held (stock)4.3% 2 Employee-owned

2.2% 1 Foreign-owned2.2% 1 Headquarters of multi-unit firm

2.2% 1 Other:

88. What is the PRIMARY type of your business?45.9% 17 Industrial/manufacturing

29.7% 11 Other:10.8% 4 Office

10.8% 4 Warehouse2.7% 1 Research and development


22/25

22

89. What is the North American Industry Classification code (NAICS), formerly the SIC code,

for your business?


90. What is the square footage of your operations in Strongsville?

48.6% 18 10,000 - 50,000 SF

21.6% 8 Less than 10,000 SF13.5% 5 50,000 - 100,000 SF8.1% 3 100,000 - 150,000 SF

5.4% 2 Over 200,000 SF2.7% 1 150,000 - 200,000 SF

91. Do you own or lease your space?

67.6% 25 Own

32.4% 12 Lease

92. Have you renewed your lease at least once since establishing business in this location?

63.6% 7 No36.4% 4 Yes

93. If yes, why?

23.1% 3 Location23.1% 3 Price

15.4% 2 Other:15.4% 2 Quality of space

7.7% 1 Amenities7.7% 1 Local community

7.7% 1 Terms


23/25

23

Section - Over the next three (3) years, do you think the following business factors will

increase, stay the same, or decline?

94. Number of customers

70.3% 26 Increase27.0% 10 Stay the Same

2.7% 1 Decline

95. Sales - Total revenue


96. Profits


2.7% 1 Decline

97. Number of employees

63.9% 23 Increase

36.1% 13 Stay the Same


24/25

24

Section - If you expect any of these business factors to increase or decrease, what are the

principal reasons for the changes?

98. Reasons for change:


99. From your perspective as a businessperson, please rate the overall quality of life in the

City of Strongsville.

54.1% 20 Excellent40.5% 15 Good

5.4% 2 Average

100. Do you live in Strongsville?

54.1% 20 No

45.9% 17 Yes

101. Would you like a member of the Business Retention and Expansion team to contact you

personally regarding this survey?

88.9% 32 No11.1% 4 Yes

102. Have you noticed any significant changes that affect how you do business in the City ofStrongsville since the last industrial survey was conducted in 2007?


103. Please describe your IMMEDIATE business needs or concerns that could be addressed

by local government or local private entities.


104. Please describe your LONG-TERM (more than 2 years) business needs or concerns that

could be addressed by local government or local private entities.



25/25

25

105. How would you like to see the City of Strongsville change in coming years?


106. In the space below, please add any comments, thoughts or suggestions. If you would

like to speak directly to the Economic Development Department please contact BrentPainter at (440) 580-3118.


Section - Thank you for completing this survey. AFTER YOU CLICK THE "SUBMIT YOUR

RESPONSES" BUTTON, YOU WILL BE IMMEDIATELY DIRECTED TO OUR CONFIRMATION

PAGE. This indicates that your responses have been sent over a secure connection to our

server.

strongsville business retention and expansion survey, 2011

Documents