KEARNEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SURVEY
Final - February 23, 2009
CLASSIFICATION
Do you live, work or both in the Kearney community (within the School District)? Circle your response.
Live – How long have you lived in the Kearney community______?
Work
Both
Do you own a business in Kearney?
Yes
No
DEFINING ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
- The goal of the planning project is to build consensus on the direction and focus of Kearney economic development efforts . . . let’s start with asking how you define “economic development?” What do you think economic development should concentrate on?
CURRENT PERCEPTIONS OF THE PRODUCT—KEARNEY
In developing our economic development program we, as do all marketers, must consider the perceptions of our product. In this case, our product is Kearney.
- What is your first thought or word you associate with Kearney—the “product?”
2a. What additional words come to mind when you think about Kearney?
2b. What would you like people to think when hear “Kearney?”
- On a scale of 1-10 (1-lowest, 10-highest), how would rate Kearney on the following factors. You can consider these our product's features and benefits:
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Kearney Stakeholder/Influencer Interview Questionnaire
Access to Skilled Workers
___ Skilled Workers Availability
___ Technical/Professional Workers Availability
___ Workforce Preparedness/Skills
Training Programs
___ Good Higher Education Opportunities
___ Diverse Job/Career Opportunities
___ Ability to Attract Talent
Needed Infrastructure
___ Proximity to Markets
___ Interstate/Highway Access
___ Rail Access
___ Air Access
___ Advanced Telecommunications Availability
___ Capacity/Cost of Utilities—Electric,Gas,Water
___ Availability of Industrial/Office Buildings/Sites
Quality of Living
___ K-12 Education
___Housing— Reasonable Choices (single family, apartments, town homes, etc.)/Reasonable Costs
___ Healthcare Services
___Retail/Commercial Vibrancy
___Safe Environment to Live/Work
___Recreational Opportunities
___Cultural Opportunities
Business Climate
___ Pro-Business Attitude
___ Competitive Operating Costs
___ Fair Tax/Regulatory System
Access to Capital
___ Competitive Financial Incentive Programs
___ Venture Capital Funds
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Kearney Stakeholder/Influencer Interview Questionnaire
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Kearney Stakeholder/Influencer Interview Questionnaire
Retail Environment
____A good location for retail growth
____Variety of retail choices
____Convenience of retail environments
____Atmosphere of retail environments
Tourism
____Tourism attractions
____Tourism potential for growth
____Tourist related businesses and services
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Kearney Stakeholder/Influencer Interview Questionnaire
STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES/CHALLENGES/OPPORTUNITIES
4. What do you think are Kearney’s most marketable assets/strengthsas a place to start or developa business?(Name your top 3-5.)
4a. How about in terms of a place to live?
5. What do you think are Kearney greatest weaknesses/challenges to future growth? (Name your top 3-5)
6. What specific business or development targets do you think are potential “opportunities”for growth and development in Kearney?
6a. Aretheir business types or development opportunities which would not be a good fit for Kearney?
6b. Please rank the following potentials for development in order of their ability to provide the community with the greatest immediate growth opportunity. Rank each individually with a score of 1 offering the most immediate growth to 5 offering the least immediate growth opportunity.
______Commercial/Service Industry Development
______Industrial/Manufacturing Development
______Multi-family Residential Development
______Single-family Residential Development
______Retail Development
- As it relates to the targeted opportunities, what areas do you consider to be Kearney’s “key competitors” in economic development?
7a. Do you believe that Kearney currently competes effectively with its key competitors? Why or why not?
7b. Is Kearney currently “organized” to compete effectively for business investments?
METHODS/STRATEGIES FOR RAISING AWARENESS OF THE PRODUCT--KEARNEY
- What do you think would be the most effective way to raise awareness/promote the “product features/benefits” of Kearney? Who are the most important groups to reach with our messages?
GOALS/OBJECTIVES/VISION FOR GROWTH
9. How would you measure the success of an economic development program? What would you like to see accomplished with this in Kearney?
ORGANIZATIONAL/OPERATIONAL ISSUES
10. What should be the role/functions/activities of the following groups in achieving economic development success and what are your perceptions of the relative strengths/weaknesses of each group?
Kearney Area Development Council?
City of Kearney?
Kearney Chamber of Commerce?
Kearney Business Community?
Regional Development Partners such as KCADC and Clay County Economic Development Council?
10a.What, if any, are the existing barriers to collaboration/cooperation in Kearney?
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Kearney Stakeholder/Influencer Interview Questionnaire