Upshur County Development Authority Strategic Planning Survey

– Step 1 of 6

The Upshur County Development Authority is conducting a survey of businesses here in the county as the organization develops its 5-year Strategic Plan in early 2022. We hope you can assist us by answering this short survey by December 29th so that we can better serve you and to identify new economic opportunities for Upshur County.

Would you consider your business to be a for-profit organization or a non-profit (charitable) one? *

For-profit
Non-profit

Is your business headquartered in Upshur County? *

Is the corporate decision-making body for your business located within Upshur County? *

Would the business be considered a “side business” or “secondary source of income” for its owner? *

How long has the business been established? *

Less than 1 year
1-2 years
3-4 years
5-9 years
10+ years

Is the business Woman-Owned (at least 51% owned and controlled by a woman)? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Is the business Veteran-Owned (at least 51% owned and controlled by a U.S. Military Veteran)? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Is the business Minority-Owned (at least 51% owned and operated by an individual that is at least 25% African American, Asian, Hispanic, or Native American)? *

Yes
No
Unsure

Which of the following best describes the number of people employed by your business? *

Self only
1-5
6-10
11-20
21-50
51-100
101+

In which age group would the primary business owner/executive/manager/director fall? *

18-34
35-64
65 and over
N/A (Business is corporate owned)

How would you describe your position within the company in Upshur County? *

Owner/Principal/Founder/President/CEO/Franchisee
Senior Member or Executive
Manager
Other

What industry would you describe your primary business function or industry?

Would your business fall within any of the following? Please mark all that apply: *

Tourism
Energy
Healthcare
Manufacturing
Aviation/Aerospace
None of the above

Is your business located within the city limits of Buckhannon? *

Do you (the respondent) also live/reside in Upshur County? *

Are you (the respondent) originally from Upshur County? *

Do your employees need specific education or certification that is not found in Upshur County or the region? *

Yes
No
Unsure

What, if any, are challenges specific to Upshur County that your company faces in employee attraction or retention?

In 2022, would you say your company expects to: *

Maintain its present workforce level
Expand and hire additional employees
Reduce number of employees
Unsure

In the next three years, would you say your company expects to: *

Maintain its present workforce level
Expand and hire additional employees
Reduce number of employees
Unsure

Beyond employee issues, which of the following would be the top three challenges that your company faces? *

Region’s transportation (roads, air transport, rail)
Traffic/congestion
Utilities
Zoning
Crime/Policing/Public Safety
Healthcare costs
Funding/Access to capital
Regulatory environment
Broadband access
Shipping/Logistics
Sites and/or buildings for location or expansion
Other

Please list the other challenge(s) your company faces:

In regard to quality of life in Upshur County, what would you say is the biggest benefit for companies and their employees?

What, if any, challenges does your business face by being geographically located in Upshur County as opposed to another part of the state or country?

Regarding quality of life in Upshur County, which three issues would you say need the most improvement? *

Quality of K-12 education
Organized sports (Youth and Adult)
Non-Sport Youth Activities
Parks & recreation
Healthcare
Housing
Availability/variety of retail & restaurants
Vibrant downtown
Other

Regarding quality of life, what other issue(s) would you say needs the most improvement?

Considering all the factors it takes to be successful in business, how would you currently rate Upshur County overall as a place for your business to succeed? *

Excellent Location
Good Location
Fair Location
Poor Location

Additional comments (optional):

Do you believe that things in Upshur County are headed in the right direction? *

Yes
No
Unsure

How would you rate the current state of the economy in Upshur County? *

Excellent
Good
Fair
Poor
Unsure

Would you say that the economy in Upshur County is getting better or worse? *

Better
Worse
Unsure

Please tell us how much you disagree or agree with the following statements.

Please rate your level of agreement on a scale of 1 to 5 with 1 being Strongly Disagree and 5 being Strongly Agree.

New businesses can easily integrate into the county’s business community. *

1 – Strongly Disagree
2 – Somewhat Disagree
3 – Unsure
4 – Somewhat Agree
5 – Strongly Agree

Upshur County is a welcoming, tolerant, and attractive place for people of diverse backgrounds. *

1 – Strongly Disagree
2 – Somewhat Disagree
3 – Unsure
4 – Somewhat Agree
5 – Strongly Agree

Leaders in the county are responsive to the needs of all residents, irrespective of ethnicity, cultural heritage, gender, or lifestyle. *

1 – Strongly Disagree
2 – Somewhat Disagree
3 – Unsure
4 – Somewhat Agree
5 – Strongly Agree

People from different industry and economic sectors frequently interact in the region. *

1 – Strongly Disagree
2 – Somewhat Disagree
3 – Unsure
4 – Somewhat Agree
5 – Strongly Agree

Artists and business people frequently interact in the county. *

1 – Strongly Disagree
2 – Somewhat Disagree
3 – Unsure
4 – Somewhat Agree
5 – Strongly Agree

Local government eagerly partners with the private sector to promote new business development. *

1 – Strongly Disagree
2 – Somewhat Disagree
3 – Unsure
4 – Somewhat Agree
5 – Strongly Agree

Business leaders proactively share information and resources when possible. *

1 – Strongly Disagree
2 – Somewhat Disagree
3 – Unsure
4 – Somewhat Agree
5 – Strongly Agree

County residents actively participate in community development organizations and projects. *

1 – Strongly Disagree
2 – Somewhat Disagree
3 – Unsure
4 – Somewhat Agree
5 – Strongly Agree

Business people in the county actively invest in economic development projects and startup ventures. *

1 – Strongly Disagree
2 – Somewhat Disagree
3 – Unsure
4 – Somewhat Agree
5 – Strongly Agree

Please rate your awareness of the services offered by the Upshur County Development Authority listed below.

The Upshur County Development Authority offers many services to either aid existing businesses or to bring new business development into Buckhannon/Upshur County. Please rate your awareness of each service, with 1 being Not At All Aware and 5 being Very Aware.

Visitation to determine your business needs or issues your business may face. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Assistance with developing industrial access roads. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Listing available property or buildings on the West Virginia Development Office and Upshur Development Authority websites. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Arranging and providing information on upcoming business training sessions. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Communicating and/or marketing the benefits of locating in Buckhannon/Upshur County. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Assistance with completing loan applications for West Virginia Economic Development Authority funding. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Finding appropriate contacts for your business needs. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Outlining beneficial state or local programs for your business. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Keeping you up-to-date on local economic development activities. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Assisting your business in navigating start-up activities and requirements by state and local government. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Discussing local banking, real estate, and marketing partners. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Providing space for business training courses. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

Providing direction about West Virginia business tax credits. *

1 – Not At All Aware
2 – Not Very Aware
3 – Uncertain
4 – Somewhat Aware
5 – Very Much Aware

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