Economic Strategy Business Survey

Your view of the local business climate

Welcome to this Business Survey, which is being undertaken as part of the City of Nanaimo's Economic Development Strategy. Your interest and participation are greatly appreciated. The City has embarked on the strategy process to provide a future-oriented plan aimed at a sustainable and diversified economy. This survey is an important part of the engagement program, providing collective input and insights that will help inform strategic direction, goals, and priorities.

Your response is confidential. No names are collected, and demographic information is aggregated for reporting purposes only.

This survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Please strive to answer all of the questions.

Please be aware that this survey is happening simultaneously with the Get Involved Nanaimo! initiative. The surveys are separate but aligned so there is a minimum of overlap and maximum of information sharing.

THANK YOU.

1) Do you own a business in the City of Nanaimo?

2) How satisfied are you with Nanaimo as a place to do business?

Not at all satisfied
Somewhat satsified
Satisfied
Very satisfied
Extremely satisfied

3) What are your greatest concerns about doing business in Nanaimo?

Greatest concern

Second greatest concern

Third greatest concern

4) What issues have most influenced your decision to base your business in Nanaimo?

Highest importance

Second most important

Third most important

Your view of local economic development

5) Please rank the importance of the following economic development goals for the City.

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Jobs

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Incomes

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Economic growth

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Sector diversification

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Transitioning to the "new economy"

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Population growth

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Quality of life

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Recovering from COVID-19

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

6) Which business development priorities do you feel are important for Nanaimo?

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Attract new businesses and investors

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Help existing businesses expand

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Assist entrepreneurs and start-ups

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Attract new residents and labour force

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Improve local infrastructure

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

Improve the local development climate

Not important

Somewhat important

Important

Very important

Extremely important

7) Please rank the following sectors for their future regional growth potential locally.

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

Primary industries (agriculture, logging, fishing, mining)

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

Manufacturing

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

Transportation, warehousing, and storage

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

Construction

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

Tourism

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

Arts, culture, entertainment

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

Retail and wholesale trade

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

Education (private and public training institutions)

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

Health and public services

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

Technology

No potential

Some potential

Average potential

Good potential

Excellent potential

8) Please rank the following for their influence on economic growth and development in Nanaimo.

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Transportation infrastructure (port, rail, air, road)

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Communications infrastructure

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Utilities like energy

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Workforce development

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Access to capital

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Access to business support services

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Occupancy or construction costs

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Regulatory climate

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Access to innovation and research capacity

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Quality of life

Not important

Neutral

Moderately important

Very important

Comments

Impact on Your Business from COVID-19 Pandemic

9) Up until the COVID-19 pandemic (February 2020), how had the health of your business changed from 5 years ago?

Business was up significantly (up 15% or more)
Business was up modestly (up 5 to 15%)
Business was about the same (up or down 5% or less)
Business was down modestly (down 5 to 15%)
Business was down significantly (down 15% or more)

10) Between March 2020 and June 2020, how has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your business?

Have been able to operate at near normal business levels
Have continued to operate at moderately reduced business levels (sales reduced 10% to 25%)
Have continued to operate at significantly reduced business levels (sales reduced 25% to 50%)
Have continued to operate at dramatically reduced business levels (sales reduced more than 50%)
Have had to close completely since March (no sales)
Have seen operations increase (sales increased above normal)

11) How has your workforce been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic?

No impact to my workforce
Have laid off between 5% and 20% of staff
Have laid off between 20% and 40% of staff
Have laid off between 40% and 60% of staff
Have laid off between 60% and 80% of staff
Have laid off between 80% and 100% of staff
Have added to my workforce

12) Do you feel your business activity will recover in 2021 to the same level you experienced prior to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Yes
No
Not sure

13) How do you see the health of your business changing in the next 5 years (by 2025)? Please assess your answer assuming there is a reasonable recovery from COVID-19 in the next 6 months.

Business will be up significantly (up 15% or more)
Business will be up modestly (up 5% to 15%)
Business will be about the same (up or down 5% or less)
Business will be down modestly (down 5% to 15%)
Business will be down significantly (down 15% or more)
I feel COVID-19 has created so much uncertainty that I cannot confidently answer this question

14) During the COVID-19 pandemic, was your workforce able to work remotely?

15) Do you anticipate your business will continue to implement remote working practices going forward?

16) Please tell us about any other impacts, issues, or concerns you have for your business regarding COVID-19.

About your company

17) What best describes the sector that your business operates in?

Primary (e.g. agriculture, fishing, logging, mining)
Utilities
Manufacturing
Transporting and warehousing
Trade services
Personal and business services
Tourism
Public services (e.g. health, education, government administration)
Other (please specify)

18) How many employees do you employ full time (i.e. all year round)?

0 to 3 employees
4 to 6 employees
7 to 10 employees
11 to 20 employees
21 to 40 employees
41 to 75 employees
76 to 100 employees
More than 100 employees

19) How many employees do you employ part time or seasonally?

0 to 3 employees
4 to 6 employees
7 to 10 employees
11 to 20 employees
21 to 40 employees
41 to 75 employees
76 to 100 employees
More than 100 employees

20) How many years has your business been in Nanaimo?

Less than 1 year
1 to 5 years
6 to 10 years
11 to 15 years
16 to 20 years
21 to 26 years
More than 26 years

21) Please tell us of any other issues, concerns, or opportunities you may have about economic development in Nanaimo.

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Collection and use of your personal information

Information collected on this form is done so under the general authority of the Community Charter and Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPPA), and is protected in accordance with FOIPPA. Personal information will only be used by authorized staff to fulfill the purpose for which it was originally collected, or for a use consistent with that purpose. Questions about the collection of your personal information may be referred to the Legislative Services Department at (250) 755-4405, or via email at foi@nanaimo.ca.

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