Economic Development Survey Results

Background: This survey is a step in a larger process and was designed to follow the Economic Summit held on June 16th, 2011. There were 145 participants and they all answered the main questions and may also left detailed comments. One question, focused on most important sectors to pursue, was also asked of the June 16th participants and the results closely follow those noted here.

Demographic Results:

Sector Results:

Participants were asked to identify the economic potential of several sectors. As the chart below shows the sectors thought to have the highest impact were tourism and agriculture but all sectors were rated high when the numbers from “strong future impact” and “highest future impact are combined.

Process Results: Participants were asked about the value of various processes and chose setting priorities and getting going on implementation as the top choices. Many of the comments reiterated the need to “get moving”.

Reactions to Specific Ideas:

The first Economic Summit produced a set of specific ideas for economic growth. This survey created an opportunity for more people to weigh in on those ideas, as well as submit their own. The question follows:

A recent Economic Summit also identified a number of specific ideas and initiatives and we would like your input. Please read these directions carefully. There are two areas to consider for each idea, viability and impact. If you believe the idea presented is reasonably viable then check that box, if not leave it blank. If you believe the idea has measurable impact on the future economy check that box, if not leave it blank. Finally please choose three of the ideas you would most like to see implemented; please just choose three. Add your own ideas or comments in the comment area below.

Answer Options:

  • Create a regulatory culture of helping and the political will required for appropriate economic development

  • Develop more enlightened citizenry

  • Make key General Plan and zoning changes

  • Create rules that support a wide range of rural commerce

  • Collaborate on joint marketing for business attraction and tourism

  • Create common signage for tourism attractions

  • Develop additional lodging options, which may include hotels, B&Bs, ranch stays, etc.

  • Develop resorts and retreats

  • Create a Welcome/Culture and CommerceCenter

  • Fully develop Residential Summer Institutes: Destination Learning

  • Create a living laboratory focused on natural assets for use by a broad range of existing schools and universities

  • Make history more prominent by displaying large scale historical assets throughout communities in prominent locations, in addition to display at museums.

As the chart below shows the most popular ideas were to create a joint marketing initiative, ideas related to increased lodging options, ways to make the business climate more friendly, and emphasizing our historical assets in innovative ways.

In addition to the results noted above a significant percentage of the participants also left comments on all questions.

Survey Comments:

Survey Question: Past economic surveys, workshops and studies have identified several areas of opportunity for economic growth in El DoradoCounty. Please rank each idea for its potential to have a positive influence, as a sector, on our future economy. Fill in any high impact sectors you think are missing in the comment area below.

  • Focus on attracting high level athletes (professional / Olympic) for high altitude training.
  • Bio-tech along with other tech industries.
  • This is a comment on #11 - Retail is important, but we need to fill the numerous vacant locations before focusing on building additional capacity.
  • 9. Since our transportation and development are so automobile focused, El DoradoCounty is a very difficult place for aging residents who can no longer drive. We need to change our transportation and development patterns before trying to attract retirees. 2. We are at a disadvantage for types of manufacturing that need low-cost, high-volume shipping, but should encourage forms of manufacturing in which we have the potential to compete, especially value added to our natural products, since manufacturing jobs typically pay better than many service jobs. 6. We do not have the transportation and urban amenities to compete for major meetings, but may be successful in attracting smaller gatherings, and especially retreats that capitalize on our beautiful natural environment.
  • Arts and Culture, History (could be under Tourism), Recreation (join regional bicycle trail development)
  • Do not think the county is a one-size fits all economy and planning. Each rural area must be allowed to develop in its own appropriate way. Fair Play for example is an island with needs and great possibilities but short on resources and deserve its own area plan developed by the local people not city planners.
  • Re-read the ED County Industry-Focused Economic Development Study dated June 30, 2010 which you helped pay for by Center for Strategic Economic Research which gave us conclusions and recommendations based on facts.
  • There is no need to "build retail capacity." The wonderful, existing locations should be supported and made more attractive. Absolutely NO need for additional shopping districts.
  • housing
  • work to restore, enhance and promote our historical centers (Coloma & Main Street Placerville) as a destination (ties into tourism)
  • Equine centers
  • I am opposed to big box stores and they pay minimum wages and take their profits elsewhere. I am in favor of small specialty retail stores, small markets. If Costco wants to come here, make them build a small, architecturally appropriate building!
  • Would like to see a conscience pursuit of research and development focused on high tech to advance the businesses parks in both El Dorado Hills and Cameron Park/Shingle Spring areas.
  • All resource development should be considered as well as good, diverse recreation (not just "same ole" river rats business - they're stale). EDC has the infra-structure needed for developing timber again, mining on many levels, water development for sport and export, all resources lacking in other regions: We should take advantage of them: We have a piddling rafting industry but no sophisticated tourist attractions such as those found in other similar areas: combination of good B&Bs or hotels: unique localized retail, ranch marketing (expand same), river sports events/retail/tourism to attract a higher tourism base than rafting (only) such as fishing, canoeing (competitions) bicycling, horse riding complete with "horse camps" needed. Look at what we have and where others successful similarly and just encourage those things here. Will take a change in political corrective attitudes and also in our public image that EDC so difficult and unfriendly to get anything permitted.
  • Retail needs to be of local importance, not corporate retail that sucks the life out of the community.
  • You left out the small businesses: construction, services, restaurants, stores, etc., the ones that left or collapsed because of government over-regulation.
  • Water Storage Development and emergency procurement for the region. Micro and Macro Gold Development. History
  • Zoning needs to allow rural retreat centers.
  • Most sectors get a strong future impact since any and all will help. The timber products industry is probably the most obvious area for creating manufacturing and jobs since 48% of the County is publicly owned with 500,000 acres of forest managed by the US Forest Service. The land is supposed to be managed for multiple uses, but now managers are not managing the forest and still saying that the water, recreation, and wildlife are being satisfied (Multiple Use), but that is only true until there is a catastrophic fire and water, recreation and wildlife are immediately impacted in the very negative and lasting terms. Management of the forest for water, recreation, and wildlife must address the risk of fire in a meaningful way. The current program is lip service.
  • Need more hotels to become a meeting destination. Need to lower the high costs of county permitting to grow our economy.
  • The reputation of this county is horrible. Potential retirees avoid the County because of the County Planning & Building Departments. Why move here when other local governments are easier to work with. You would be found lacking good judgment to move here or start a business in this County.
  • Attract businesses to EDC. Look at what restrictions you have and why you have them. Look at the cost of doing business here. Look how close the income producing shopping is in Folsom..... Why is it not in EDC? How easy and cost effective is it for a business to move here? What about transportation? Get serious about income in EDC.

Survey Question: Past Economic Summits have created a list of potential process related actions to further economic development. Please rank the importance of these actions to the future of the economy in El DoradoCounty.

  • Champions that are advocates to attract new business are the most critical.
  • Sampling of each economic area in county to see what identifies that area, strengths, services, tourism attractions, housing needs, development needs, educational needs, growth issues, ratio of population to businesses...smaller towns are made up of more businesses than cities with more employees which leads to out of county loss of taxes and revenue to local merchants. Benefits for small business owners and home businesses to grow and establish an employee base within county builds up our county within.
  • Communicating these steps brings people on board rather than letting them feel blindsided.
  • Compile, integrate and use the economic development data that we already have. Coordinate our various existing economic development efforts. More government outreach to garner community involvement in policy decisions, including consistent well-publicized announcement of all opportunities for public engagement.
  • Determining priorities should be balance with openness to opportunities. We need to think regionally. By 2050, CA Dept. of Finance projects population in northern CA will be equal to SO Cal. What are impacts and opportunities of SLT-Reno preparation for 2022 Olympics bid?
  • Limit review of past data- look at current and look into the future. With current economic recession, large aging population, shrinking school age and uncertainty-the cheese has moved!
  • Retain/Hire an advocate for the County that is the primary conduit for ED type inquiries and who can help organizations get through the process it takes to open their doors.
  • Make Country Ordinances and Permitting activities PRO BUSINESS, not just business friendly. It is the county staff anti-growth attitude that makes most potential growth impossible.
  • Again no one-size fits all approach - listen, visit, see, hear, absorb and do it twice. Planning should not be an obstacle but a facilitator of the future sharing its knowledge not its mandates. Appropriate planning for each rural area
  • We must be careful to balance interests; do NOT allow industry/corporations/business to make decisions without equal input from sustainable/environmental resources. Positive responses to the carefully worded statements above should not be taken as permission to run away with "economic development," "data," "involved organizations" and such.
  • Visual vision for the county. What do we look like? Are we Roseville, or are we Sutter Creek? There are some that would like to see us as Roseville. I think that would be a huge mistake. It is also contrary to the General Plan.
  • High Tech
  • Seems we have plenty of economic data and other information to establish all the rest of this at this time. Need a true economic leader!
  • Actively support what is working and get of our 'wish list' mode
  • Consider ways to modify county & state-level laws, requirements & regulations that are huge barriers to economic growth.
  • All these are important but so shallow. In fact the Gen Plan has done this to great extent. This looks like just one more "inventory" to gain support for how it's always been done (and failed consistently). Best effort I've seen to move the unwilling forward has been current Regulatory Reform volunteers: no desire to conduct endless and useless meetings: Just a desire to get the work done. The problem is not whether each of these areas are important: The problem is the mentality that is even asking these questions (sorry - not meant to insult!)
  • Get out of the business of competing against the local economy. Your actions have nearly destroyed the long historic economic base of El DoradoCounty.
  • if we don't focus on growth, we will cease to exist as a 'destination' in El Dorado
  • reduce regulations that strangle business & manufacturing
  • We are not going to have economic development unless and until someone has the guts to stand up to the government. I was on the El Dorado County Planning Commission and over and over we asked the CountyChamber of Commerce, Economic Development Department and others to give us their input. They refused because, "We don't want to upset the Board of Supervisors." Thank God for the Shingle Springs Chamber that receives no government funding and cares about business in El DoradoCounty, rather than their government funding.
  • Provide alternative (to car ownership) for senior transportation, i.e. paratransit, bus. etc. The county is very deficient in same.
  • There are many "cliches" in this County. These lines need to be broken down and get away from the "good ole boy" mentality.
  • Determine niche areas in the County. One size does not fit all. Economic vision should be by County area as well as organizations, i.e., rural lands vs. urban
  • You can meet and talk all you like - NOTHING ever happens. Just look at the 2 year "regulatory overall" that has just been completed. Nothing has changed and nothing will until the citizens of this County elect a Board and hold them to task.
  • Enough studies, surveys, committee meetings, grants for studies and summits. It's time to do something!
  • All communities to be involved.
  • There is enough data - now we need a marketing/communications and implementation plan in order to promote the region and reach out to stakeholders, partners, commercial brokers and site selectors.
  • You'll need to do all of these to be a success. Look at how your non-profits are finding a way to collaborate. Politics in EDC is currently more important than progress and the good of the citizens. Public sector wants to keep their kingdoms. It is VERY difficult to create a working plan with so many conflicting ideas. What do you want the county to look like in 20 years? Decide and set your path.

Survey Question: A recent Economic Summit also identified a number of specific ideas and initiatives and we would like your input. Please read these directions carefully. There are two areas to consider for each idea, viability and impact. If you believe the idea presented is reasonably viable then check that box, if not leave it blank. If you believe the idea has measurable impact on the future economy check that box, if not leave it blank. Finally please choose three of the ideas you would most like to see implemented; please just choose three. Add your own ideas or comments in the comment area below.

  • Attract high level athletes for high altitude training. * Create a sports commission for hosting young sports teams and events.
  • Have a strong economic development director/advocate that is focused, well organized, connected to the region, that lives here and love's El DoradoCounty.
  • Let's make El DoradoCounty truly the Gold Country by treating our people like "Gold" each person. Family, retiree can make a difference in our communities. Let's empower ourselves from within to go GREEN, be SUSTAINABLE, HEALTHY, HAPPY, LIVE LONG & PROSPER!! Let's stand out of the crowd as one of California's BEST counties for by the People, for the people!! A county our kids are proud to reside in and raise their kids!!
  • Remove the zoning constraints on existing business to allow them to expand. Do not get involved in people working from their homes; there is no need for any governmental regulation. It would only deter people from moving into our area.
  • Fewer regulations, more freedom.
  • Create a plan to accommodate the growing need for sports facilities for our local children. Fees are being paid to facilities outside our county in order for children to participate in team sports (i.e.: volleyball, basketball
  • In the past decade of doing business in EDC, it is clear that the number one reason tourists come to EDC in the Pvlle area is in descending order: Apple Hill, wine tasting & wine events, PDA events, Weddings/family & friends and lastly, History.
  • Rather than continuing to facilitate suburban sprawl, integrate our housing, jobs, retail, transportation, recreation, and tourism to enable local jobs, local retail, and tourism, while preserving and using our natural resources.
  • Keep government regulations to a bare minimum as regulations are killing the nation.
  • Make this a good place for older adults so as we age we don't have to move away to a place with all income levels of housing, additional transportation and activities that can be pursued without a CAR.