Business Improvement and Expansion Survey for Okanagan Falls

Part A: Local Environment

1) What is your overall opinion of Okanagan Falls as a place to conduct business?

(1 being poor, 5 being excellent)

1 2 3 4 5

2) What do you see as some of the main assets of Okanagan Falls as a place to live and own/ manage a business? (e.g. schools, Health services, entertainment facilities)

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3) What can be done to make the local economy stronger and to create more jobs?

4) What main changes would you like to see made to improve the economy of Okanagan Falls?

5a) How do you rate Okanagan Falls with respect to the following factors? (Please rate between 1 and 5 with 1 being poor, 5 being excellent) Please write N/A if a point does not apply to you.

	Rating
Access to suitable labour
Access to markets
Access to suppliers
Development approval process
Rates/ taxes
Availability of appropriately zoned land
Buildings
Leasing space
Telecommunications
Other (please specify below)

5b) Do you have any specific suggestions on how to improve any of the services listed above?

6a) What kinds of development would you like to see at the old Weyerhaueser site?

6b) What kinds of development would you like to see in Okanagan Falls as a whole?

7) Can you give specific examples of businesses/ services or types of businesses/ services that would complement/ help your business to thrive if they were to relocate to/ start up in the Okanagan Falls area?

Part B: Your Business

8a) Did you establish this business?

Yes: ____ No: ____

(If ‘No’, proceed to Q9)

8b) If you relocated the business to Okanagan Falls from elsewhere, please indicate where you have moved from:

Another location in this area________

Elsewhere in this region____________

Elsewhere in BC__________________

Elsewhere in Canada______________

Overseas_______________________

8c) Why did you relocate? (What originally attracted you to Okanagan Falls)?

9) What are the main products or services you provide? Please list up to four in order of importance.

Part C: Business Plans and Decisions

10a) Is your company/ business considering expanding within the next two years?

Yes___ No___ Not sure___

(If ‘No’ go to Q11)

10b) What is the nature of this expansion? (Please tick which are applicable)

An increase in floor space________________________

Additional product lines__________________________

Additional services for customers__________________

Additional investment in equipment and technology

_____________________________________________

Process improvements__________________________

An increase in staff_____________________________

Other (please specify) ___________________________

10c) What, if any, are the major constraints on your expansion? Please tick which are applicable)

Finance______________________________________

Tax rates_____________________________________

Lack of suitable premises________________________

Physical space_________________________________

Transportation constraints_______________________

Technological constraints________________________

Local regulations (e.g. zoning) _____________________

Energy costs__________________________________

Lack of suitable staff____________________________

Identifying & accessing new markets______________

Other (please specify) __________________________

10d) Please elaborate on Q10c if possible.

11a) Do you or would you consider working in a co-operative way with other businesses? Please tick any which are applicable)

Co-operative marketing__________

Joint tendering_________________

Referral of work_________________

Joint participation in business management learning activities_______________________

Discussion groups_______________

Group purchasing of inputs________

Staff sharing____________________

Joint training of staff_____________

Buying and/ or sharing equipment

______________________________

Sharing distribution services_______

Other_________________________

11b) Do you have any comments on the success or feasibility of these activities?

12a) Are you currently considering changing the location of your business?

Yes___ No___ Not Sure___

(If ‘No’, go to Q13)

12b) If ‘yes’ please give reasons for considering relocation

12c) Where are you considering relocating to?

§ Another location in Regional District South Okanagan-Similkameen _____________________________

§ Elsewhere in the Thompson Okanagan region________________________

§ Elsewhere in British Columbia______________________

Elsewhere in Canada________________________

Overseas______________________

12d) If relocating out of this area, what major benefits would the location offer?