Town of Farmington
Economic Development Commission
Business Survey
Presented to:
July 20, 2010
Background Information
3
Study Objectives
 To determine and quantify satisfaction with EDC solutions to business
challenges
 To understand current business perspectives in ways that are:
• Timely
• Scientific/Generalizable
• Actionable
 To gather open and honest feedback using an independent third-party on topics
such as:
• Business satisfaction with Town’s business related policies
• Participation in Town sponsored/endorsed offerings and events
 To guide strategic planning and other decision-making
 To fulfill a request of the Town Council from the 2009 joint meeting
4
Survey Methodology
 Mode: Telephone Survey
 Population: Businesses located in the Town of Farmington (2,022)
 Completes: 155 (margin of error 7.57%)
 Length: Approximately 10 minutes
 Dates: May 5 – May 14, 2010
Executive Summary
6
Executive Summary: Key Findings
The 3-5 year businesses outlook is very good, with one-third (34%)
planning to increase their employment and half (56%) staying the same
Most businesses (86%) are planning on staying in Town for at least the
next 3-5 years
Most businesses in town are small (revenue below $1M)
Overall, businesses have a very high rating of the Town, as more than
three-quarters (76%) rate the Town image as “Excellent” or “Good”
Businesses are not aware of Town-offered Business Services
7
Executive Summary: Recommendations
Communication
to Businesses
• Town Service Offerings
• Traffic Updates
• Market Town
Consolidate
Information
• Coordinate with Library
• Provide Business
Resources
Survey Population Overview
9
Business Types
 There is not an overabundance of any particular business type in Farmington
 More than one quarter (26%) of Town businesses conduct Professional
Services
26%
Professional Service
10%
Other Service
Restaurant
Construction
6%
6%
Automotive
4%
Manufacturing
4%
Commercial
3%
Industrial
3%
Financial Service
5%
Non-Profit
Insurance
5%
Distribution
Real Estate
5%
Office
1%
Retail
5%
Wholesale
1%
High Tech
5%
Bio-Tech
Medical
5%
Something Else
Q4. What type of business do you conduct?
3%
2%
1%
3%
10
Tenure in Farmington
 The average number of years that businesses have been in Farmington is:
21.5 years
From Where Did Your Company Move?
65%
Always been in Farmington
7%
West Hartford
Hartford
5%
Out of State
3%
Bristol
3%
New Britain
3%
Avon
3%
Glastonbury
2%
Other CT Town
Q1. How long have you been in business in Farmington?
Q2. From where did your company move?
8%
11
Business Revenue Size
 Most of the businesses had revenue under $1Million in 2009
2009 Gross Revenue
60%
16%
<$1Million
$1Million $5Million
Q8. In which of the following categories were your gross revenues in 2009?
3%
3%
$5Million $10Million
$10Million +
12
Reasons Companies Choose to Locate in Farmington
 Companies value the high “Quality of Life” they find in Farmington
 With the Town’s many home-based businesses as a contributing factor, a
sizable group is located in Farmington because they “Live in Town”
Quality of life
18%
Customer Base
5%
Live in Town
17%
Close to Similar/Service
Business
5%
Availability of Commercial
Buildings/Land
10%
8%
Location (general)
Thriving Business Culture
Home-Based Business
Q3. Why did your company choose to locate in Farmington?
8%
6%
4%
Always Been Here
Access to Highways
Workforce
Other
3%
2%
13%
13
3-5 Year Outlook of Staying in Town
 Most businesses report that they are planning on staying in Farmington
• Those who are staying are not planning on changing facilities
• Half of the companies not staying in Farmington are moving away or retiring
Staying in Farmington
86%
Yes
No
Purchase, Lease or
Construct New Facilities
81%
14%
8%
Yes
No
Reasons Not Staying in Farmington
50%
Moving Away/Retiring
Availability of Land/Buildings
17%
Cost of Land/Buildings
17%
Other (SPECIFY)
17%
Q9. In the next 3 to 5 years, is your business planning on staying in Farmington?
Q10a. Is your company planning to purchase, lease or construct new facilities in Town?; Q10b. Why not?
14
Facility Own vs. Lease
 Business are evenly split between owning and leasing their facility
Lease
48%
Q5. Do you own or lease your facility?
Own
50%
15
Employees & Future Employment Needs
 The average number of people employed by a town business is:
Full-Time: 15.4
Part-Time: 6.5
 One-third of Farmington businesses project their employment needs to increase
in the next few years
• Another half expect stable employment
34%
Increase
56%
Stay the Same
Decrease
8%
Q6. How many people are employed with your company at this location (in Farmington)? ** Outlier of 5,000FT and 2,000PT removed for this calculation
Q7. In the next few years, do you project your employment needs at this location to increase, decrease or stay the same?
Town Evaluation
17
Town Rating
 Most businesses have a very high image of the Town, as three-quarters rate the
Town as “Excellent” or “Good” from a business perspective
 No business rates the Town as “Poor”
43%
33%
19%
5%
0%
Excellent
Good
Fair
Q11. From a business perspective, how would you rate the Town of Farmington’s overall image? Excellent, good, fair or poor?
Poor
Don't Know
18
Best Things About Being Located in Town
 Businesses think that the high “Quality of Life” available is the best thing about
having their business in Town
• Continual focus on this high quality of life will keep businesses satisfied with the
Town and will help to attract more businesses to Town
 “Location” and “Highway Access” are also highly rated
23% - Quality of Life
18% - Location (general)
9% - Highway Access
Q17. What are the BEST things about having your business located in the Town of Farmington?
19
Worst Things About Being Located in Town
 Half of all businesses report that there is “Nothing” negative about being located
in Town
 For those who mention anything negative, “Traffic” is reported to be the worst
thing about having their business located in Town
• Communication campaigns to update businesses on road construction and any
traffic improvements would be well received
55% - NOTHING
14% - Traffic
4% - Town/Govt. Lack of Support
Q18. Are there any negative aspects about having your business located in the Town of Farmington?
20
Contributions of Town Elements – “A” or “B” Rating
 “Accessibility of Town Staff” as a contribution of Town businesses is very highly
graded
 “Overall Location” and the “Responsiveness of Town Government” are also
given highly positive ratings
67%
Accessibility of town staff
Overall location giving my company a competitive
advantage
57%
52%
Responsiveness of town government
38%
Skilled workforce
Accessibility of regulatory process items
29%
Availability of commercial real estate
24%
Impact of land use regulations on my business
24%
Q12. Please grade the Town on each of the following elements as they contribute to your business…
Contributions of Town Elements – Rated “Don’t Know”
 Town Elements which do not contribute to Town businesses include the
“Availability of Commercial Real Estate” and the “Impact of Land Use
Regulations”, as respondents were not familiar with these elements to give them
any grade
Availability of commercial real estate
48%
Impact of land use regulations on my business
48%
43%
Accessibility of regulatory process items
33%
Skilled workforce
29%
Responsiveness of town government
Overall location giving my company a competitive
advantage
Accessibility of town staff
Q12. Please grade the Town on each of the following elements as they contribute to your business…
24%
14%
21
22
Community Services – “A” or “B” Rating
 “Public Schools” and “Health Care Facilities” are the most highly rated
community services in Town, followed closely by “Financial Institutions” and
“Higher Education”
Public Schools
68%
Health Care Facilities
68%
Financial Institutions
65%
Higher Education
64%
46%
Business Support Services at Library
Business Support Services through EDC
Q13. Based on the following community services, please grade Farmington as a place for your company to do business…
37%
23
Community Services – Rated “Don’t Know”
 One-third of businesses do not know about “Business Services” offered by
either the EDC or at the Library
34%
Business Support Services through EDC
34%
Business Support Services at Library
23%
Public Schools
22%
Higher Education
16%
Health Care Facilities
Financial Institutions
14%
Q13. Based on the following community services, please grade Farmington as a place for your company to do business…
24
Town Services Which Make Company More Competitive
 Three quarters of businesses report that they are unaware of any services
offered by the Town which would help make their company more competitive
75% Unaware of
Programs/Services
 Over one-third report that they do not need any programs or services to help
their company be more competitive
• Another 22% “Don’t Know” of any services that would help
35%
No Needed
Services
Q14. What programs or services does the Town of Farmington offer to help make your company more competitive?
Q15. What additional programs or services should the Town of Farmington offer to help make your company more competitive?
Services Which Help Company Be More Competitive –
Top Mentions
Work with local groups (eg. Chamber, Rotary, Unionville Village Improvement
Association, etc.) to support and promote local business (4%)
Advise Town Council on economic development policy and issues (3%)
Liaison between Town government and local business community (3%)
Economic Development Commission (3%)
Communicate with local businesses (Quarterly E-News, websites, etc.) (2%)
Provide networking opportunities with local businesses (2%)
Q14. What programs or services does the Town of Farmington offer to help make your company more competitive?
25
Additional Programs or Services the Town Should Offer
– Top Mentions
Offer Tax Breaks/Incentives (8%)
Market Town (5%)
Provide networking opportunities with local businesses (3%)
Change Signage Regulation (3%)
Help locate available commercial land and buildings/facilitate between real estate
broker and prospective business (3%)
Q15. What additional programs or services should the Town of Farmington offer to help make your company more competitive?
26
27
Other Types of Businesses/Services Needed
 “Suppliers” are the most requested type of business
 Most businesses (63%) either do not know or do not think any other types of
businesses or business services are needed in Town
21%
Suppliers
Other like companies (eg insurance or
manufacturing)
3%
Printing
3%
Restaurant
Something else
1%
11%
None
Don't know
Q16. What other types of business or business services does your business need but are not located in town?
30%
33%
28
Additional Feedback
 Businesses with feedback think the Town is doing a good job and should keep
doing what they are doing
 Most do not have any additional feedback
68%
No
8%
Doing a Good Job/Keep doing what they are doing
Transportation Issues
4%
Tax Issues
2%
Don't know
1%
Signage/Regulatory Issues
1%
Something Else
15%
Q19. Is there any other feedback or comments you wish to give to the Town's Economic Development Commission?
Appendix
30
Location Gives Company Competitive Advantage
 More than half (57% A-B) of businesses feel that the “Overall Location Gives My
Company a Competitive Advantage”
 One quarter feel the overall location does not impact their “Competitive
Advantage” at all
33%
24%
24%
10%
10%
0%
A
B
C
D
F
Q12a. Please grade the Town on each of the following elements as they contribute to your business…Overall location giving my company a competitive
advantage
Don't know
31
Skilled Workforce
 The “Skilled Workforce” available in Farmington is rated with a “B” or a “C” by
most businesses
 This finding is consistent with State-wide Skilled Workforce concerns
 One-third say that the “Skilled Workforce” does not impact their business
33%
29%
19%
10%
A
B
C
5%
5%
D
F
Q12b. Please grade the Town on each of the following elements as they contribute to your business…Skilled workforce
Don't know
32
Availability of Commercial Real Estate
 Almost half of businesses do not see the “Availability of Commercial Real
Estate” as having any impact on their business
• This is likely a reflection of the large number of home-based businesses as well as
the general locational stability of Town businesses
48%
14%
14%
10%
10%
5%
A
B
C
D
F
Q12c. Please grade the Town on each of the following elements as they contribute to your business…Availability of commercial real estate
Don't know
33
Impact of Land Use Regulations
 “Land Use Regulations” do not impact about half of all businesses
 Those who are impacted grade these Regulations as a “B” (19%)
 Another 14% grade “Land Use Regulations” as an “F”
48%
19%
14%
10%
5%
A
5%
B
C
D
F
Q12d. Please grade the Town on each of the following elements as they contribute to your business…Impact of land use regulations on my business
Don't know
34
Accessibility of Regulatory Process Items
 As with Land Use Regulations, the “Accessibility of the Regulatory Process”
does not contribute to four-in-ten businesses
43%
14%
14%
14%
14%
0%
A
B
C
D
F
Q12e. Please grade the Town on each of the following elements as they contribute to your business…Accessibility of regulatory process items
Don't know
35
Accessibility of Town Staff
 “Town Staff” are seen as very Accessible, with about half grading “Accessibility”
as an “A”
48%
19%
14%
14%
F
Don't know
5%
0%
A
B
C
D
Q12f. Please grade the Town on each of the following elements as they contribute to your business…Accessibility of town staff
36
Responsiveness of Town Government
 “Town Government” is seen as very “Responsive”, with more than half awarding
an “A” or “B” grade
 One-in-three does not feel that the “Responsiveness of Town Government”
impacts their business
29%
29%
24%
14%
5%
0%
A
B
C
D
F
Q12g. Please grade the Town on each of the following elements as they contribute to your business…Responsiveness of town government
Don't know
37
Public Schools
 The “Public Schools” in Farmington are very highly rated by Town businesses,
with more than two-thirds rating them as “A” or “B”
51%
23%
17%
5%
1%
A
B
C
D
3%
F
Q13a. Based on the following community services, please grade Farmington as a place for your company to do business…Public Schools
Don't know
38
Higher Education
 As with Public Schools, “Higher Education” is also appreciated by Town
businesses
41%
23%
22%
11%
A
B
C
1%
2%
D
F
Q13b. Based on the following community services, please grade Farmington as a place for your company to do business…Higher Education
Don't know
39
Financial Institutions
 Two-thirds of Town businesses rate “Financial Institutions” highly
40%
25%
14%
14%
6%
2%
A
B
C
D
F
Q13c. Based on the following community services, please grade Farmington as a place for your company to do business…Financial Institutions
Don't know
40
Business Support Services at the Library
 About one-third of businesses do not know about the “Business Support
Services at the Library”
 Those who do know rate these Services highly, with over one-quarter awarding
an “A” grade
34%
28%
18%
13%
A
B
C
3%
4%
D
F
Q13d. Based on the following community services, please grade Farmington as a place for your company to do business…Business Support Services at
the Library
Don't know
41
Business Support Services through the EDC
 “Business Support Services Provided by the EDC” are unknown by one-third of
businesses
 Another 40% rate these Services as an “A” or “B”
34%
19%
19%
14%
8%
6%
A
B
C
D
F
Q13e. Based on the following community services, please grade Farmington as a place for your company to do business…Business Support Services
through Economic Development Commission
Don't know
42
Health Care Facilities
 “Health Care Facilities” are highly graded by about half of Town businesses
46%
21%
16%
10%
2%
A
B
C
D
4%
F
Q13f. Based on the following community services, please grade Farmington as a place for your company to do business…Health Care Facilities
Don't know
43
Survey Population Overview
 Based on the sample list provided by the EDC, the following types of
businesses participated in the survey:
Business Type
%
Uncategorized *
56.1
Home BIZ
22.6
UCHC
9.0
West Farms
4.5
Insurance
3.2
Manufacturing
1.9
Unionville
1.3
Commercial Real Estate
0.6
Major Employers
0.6
* Uncategorized businesses include all businesses that have registered with the Town Clerk since 2008 and any business that has registered for an
Economic Development event and/or newsletter since 2009