Provincial BR+E Survey Results January 2015 to June 2016

Purpose

• To support communities undertaking BR+E projects with their data analysis.

• To provide context and the ability for communities to benchmark their results.

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Context• Business Retention and Expansion (BR+E) is a structured

action-oriented and community-based approach to business and economic development. It promotes job growth by helping communities learn about issues as well as opportunities for local businesses and sets priorities for projects to address these needs.

• BR+E projects are led by municipalities/organizations across the province, and consist of trained volunteers conducting confidential interviews with businesses in their communities.

• Provincial results are compiled from each of the communities contributing data to the online data management system.

BR+E Projects January 2015-June 2016

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The results include 19 projects and 1,213 surveys

Considerations

When comparing your community’s results with the provincial results there are several factors to keep in mind:

• Scope of the project e.g. Local Food or Tourism focus

• Sector differences between your community and the province-wide results

• Timeframe of the project (January 2015 – June 2016) and the economic conditions at that time

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5.4%

1.3%

7.0%

10.6%

1.1%

26.5%

2.2%1.1%

3.6%1.4%

6.9%

0.5% 1.4% 2.0%3.6%

5.2%

13.9%

5.2%

Percent of Businesses Surveyed by North American Industry Classification System

(NAICS)

Number of respondents (N) = 554

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BUSINESS INFORMATIONBR+E Survey Results – January 2015 to June 2016

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Which of the following best describes your business?

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N=1,147

77.0%

11.5%4.6% 6.9%

Does your business have a business plan?

Is at least one of the owners a resident of

the community?

Is at least one of the owners

involved in the day-to-day operation of

the business?

N= 1,105 N= 1,099 N= 1,077

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Yes54%

No46%

Yes95%

No5%

Yes83%

No17%

How many years has your business been in operation in this

community?

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N=1,122

Less than 1 year 1 to 3 years 4 to 10 years 11 to 25 years 26 to 35 years Over 35 years

4%

9%

21%

27%

12%

27%

Including owner/owners, how many employees work at this location?

N= 1,131

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1 - 4 5 - 9 10 - 19 20 - 29 30 - 49 50 - 99 100 - 299 300 or more

51%

21%

13%

5% 5% 2% 2% 1%

N=1,129

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Local Regional National International

47%

40%

6% 7%

The primary market of your business is?

BUSINESS CLIMATEBR+E Survey Results – January 2015 to June 2016

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General impression of community by businesses

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What is your general impression of the community as a place to do business?

In the past three years has your attitude changed?

N=1,151 N=1,124

Yes, more positive

30%

Yes, more negative

19%

No Change50%

No response Poor Fair Good Excellent

2%7%

19%

51%

21%

How would you rate the following factors in doing business in this

community?

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Workforce

Availability of Serviced Land

Land Costs

Support from Municipality

Water/Wastewater Capacity

Development/Building Permit Process

Proximity to rail and Airports

Municipal Property Taxes

Availability of space for rent or lease

Development Charges

Water/Wastewater fees

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

43%

26%

30%

39%

14%

28%

30%

58%

36%

23%

28%

37%

19%

27%

47%

38%

27%

27%

25%

21%

13%

18%

20%

55%

43%

15%

48%

45%

43%

17%

43%

64%

54%

Poor & FairGood and ExcellentNo response

How would you rate the following factors in doing business in this

community?

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Cost of Natural Gas

Cost of Electricity

Quality of Life

Availability of adequate electricity

Support from other businesses

Local roads and streets

Availability of health and medical services

Support from local residents

Cellular Phone Service

Internet Service

Availability of Adequate Housing

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

20%

70%

8%

19%

24%

24%

33%

19%

29%

36%

33%

30%

12%

87%

72%

66%

71%

58%

72%

65%

58%

43%

50%

18%

5%

9%

10%

5%

9%

9%

7%

6%

24%

Poor & FairGood and ExcellentNo response

Rate your level of satisfaction with each of the following

community services:

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Police services

Fire services

Recreation facilities

Cultural facilities

Parks and open spaces

Support from local residents

Street/road repair

Snow removal

Garbage/recycling

Public transit

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

17%

9%

25%

26%

16%

12%

42%

27%

24%

26%

70%

77%

56%

38%

68%

62%

52%

67%

64%

10%

13%

14%

19%

36%

16%

26%

6%

6%

13%

64%

Poor & FairGood & ExcellentNo Response

Rate your level of satisfaction with each of the following

community services:

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Schools (Elementary and Secondary)

Post-secondary education

Workforce planning/development board

Chamber of Commerce/Board of Trade

Business Improvement Area (BIA)

Community Futures Development Corp.

Small Business Enterprise Centre

Other

Planning, engineering, zoning, and building permits

Economic development services

Health department/health unit approvals

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

12%

18%

16%

23%

18%

11%

10%

1%

28%

24%

14%

47%

32%

12%

39%

19%

24%

11%

4%

33%

32%

37%

41%

50%

72%

38%

63%

64%

79%

95%

39%

44%

49%

Poor & FairGood & ExcellentNo Response

FUTURE PLANSBR+E Survey Results – January 2015 to June 2016

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N=1,213

Within the next 18 months, what are your plans?

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36%

3%4%6%

51%

ExpandDownsizeRelocateClose/SellRemain the Same

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTBR+E Survey Results – January 2015 to June 2016

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What is the outlook for your industry?

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N=1,132

Growing Declining Stable Not sure

47%

10%

36%

7%

N=1,088

Please give an approximate annual sales range for your

business:

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$0 - $99,999 $100,000 - $249,999

$250,000 - $499,999

$500,000 - $999,999

$1,000,000 - $4,999,999

$5,000,000 - $9,999,999

+10,000,000 Prefer not to answer

19%

16%

13%11%

16%

5%4%

16%

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N=1,116

Are your projected sales in the next year expected to:

Increase Decrease Remain the same Not sure

56%

5%

29%

10%

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Is your business currently experiencing any barriers related to your information

technology requirements?32%

20%

13% 12%

7%

12%

5%

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Are you interested in working co-operatively with other businesses in the community to

pursue any of the following?

Joint product purchasing Joint marketing Joint training Networking/information sharing None Other (Specify)

12%

26%

17%

28%

14%

3%

WORKFORCE BR+E Survey Results – January 2015 to June 2016

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During the past 3 years, has the number of people you employ in your business

increased, decreased or stayed the same?

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N=1,087

Increased 35%

Decreased11%

Remained the Same 53%

Don’t Know1%

How would you rate the following factors in this community for your

business needs?

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Availability of qualified workers

Stability of the workforce

Ability to attract new employees

Ability to retain new employees

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

53%

39%

44%

29%

27%

40%

33%

46%

21%

21%

24%

25%

Poor & FairGood & ExcellentNo response

Does your business currently participate

in any co-op, internship or

apprenticeship programs?

Does your business

currently use any external

training?

Does your business

currently have difficulty hiring?

N=1,069 N=1,068 N=1,069

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Yes45%No

55%

Yes38%

No62%

Yes47.5%

No52.5%

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

BR+E Survey Results – January 2015 to June 2016

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N= 1,051

Do you know of a business that may have an interest in locating in

this community?

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Yes10%

No90%

Updating b

usiness

plan

Succe

ssion plan

ning

Marketing s

eminars

Access

to capita

l seminars

Trade sh

ows

Business

networki

ng sessi

ons

Export

development p

rograms a

nd servi

ces

Joint adve

rtisin

g and m

arketing

Attraction of re

lated su

pply & se

rvices b

usinesse

s

Workforce

planning, e

mployee tr

aining a

nd attrac

tion

Productivit

y improve

ment works

hops

E-mark

eting, socia

l media a

nd online co

ntent works

hops

Other

5.5%4.7%

8.5%

6.7%

8.2%

12.0%

2.1%

14.5%

7.8%

9.4%

4.8%

13.0%

2.9%

N=3,605 (Businesses could provide more than one response)

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What assistance or opportunities would be beneficial to support

your business?

For more Information

For more information on the BR+E program please visit:

http://ontario.ca/btkj

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