Central Arkansas Economic Development Alliance Survey Report 2 May 7, 2004

1. Central Arkansas Economic Development Alliance Survey Report 2 May 7, 2004

2. Respondents • Economic Development Survey • Total Responses as of May 7 , 2004 • 999 • Workforce Survey • Total Responses as of May 7, 2004 • 192

3. www.LocateCentralArkansas.com

4. www.LocateCentralArkansas.com • 2312 Unique Visitors • Highest Traffic Date: March 12, 2004 • Most Requested Pages: • (1) Home (48.5%) • (2) About the Project (8.43%) • (3) Project News (7.31%) • Most Active Day of the Weeks: Friday

5. Outline • Economic Development Survey • Demographics • Satisfaction • Economic Development Perception • Workforce Survey • Demographics • Employment • Satisfaction • Local Workforce • Development Programs • Quotes from Economic Developers

6. Economic Development - Demographics Annual Income

7. Economic Development - Demographics Gender

8. Economic Development - Demographics Ethnicity

9. Economic Development - Demographics Years of Education

10. Economic Development - Demographics Where do you live Where do you work

11. Economic Development - Demographics Commute Time to Work

12. Economic Development - Demographics • Top 5 Occupations • Management • Business and Financial • Education, Training, and Library • Office and Administrative • Sales and Related • Top 5 Industries • Utilities • Education • Finance and Insurance • Public Administration • Healthcare and Social Assistance

13. Economic Development - Satisfaction • Education • Highest Satisfaction – Community Colleges • Lowest Satisfaction – 9-12 Education • Livability • Highest Satisfaction • Outdoor Recreation • Family Environment • Good Healthcare • Lowest Satisfaction • Traffic • Growth Management • Low Crime

14. Economic Development - Satisfaction Infrastructure Highest Satisfaction – Driving Time to Work Lowest Satisfaction – Public Transportation Working Environment Highest Satisfaction – Equal Opportunity Lowest Satisfaction – High Paying Jobs General Economy Highest Satisfaction – Tourism Promotion Lowest Satisfaction – Effective Government Leadership

15. Economic Development - Perception Top Five Industries survey respondents would like to see either expand or locate in Central Arkansas • Software Computer Development • Professional Services • Healthcare / Medical Research • Manufacturing • Electronics

16. Economic Development - Perception What does effective Economic Development mean to survey respondents More Jobs in Central Arkansas New Companies opening in Central Arkansas

17. Economic Development - Perception When it comes to marketing, what is most important to survey respondents Market to industry executives to get them to locate a business in Central Arkansas

18. Economic Development - Perception What do you believe the Nation’s perception of Central Arkansas to be?

19. Economic Development - Perception How do the people of Central Arkansas perceive their community?

20. Economic Development - Perception Central Arkansas’s Biggest Asset • Potential • Scenic Beauty • Affordability

21. Economic Development - Perception One Word Descriptors Opportunity Potential Eager Comfortable Undiscovered Family Friendly Awesome Sprouting Affordable

22. Outline • Economic Development Survey • Demographics • Satisfaction • Economic Development Perception • Workforce Survey • Demographics • Employment • Satisfaction • Local Workforce • Development Programs • Quotes from Economic Developers

23. Economic Development - Demographics Employee Residence Company Location

24. Workforce - Demographics What type of product or service does your company provide?

25. Workforce - Employment How many employees do you currently have?

26. Workforce - Employment How many employees did you hire last year?

27. Workforce - Employment How many employees do you plan to hire within the next year?

28. Workforce - Employment What is the level of difficulty and cost of recruiting outside the region

29. Workforce - Employment How do you find new employees?

30. Workforce - Satisfaction What do you consider to be the three greatest strengths of Central Arkansas Workforce? • Work Ethic • Low Cost • Availability

31. Workforce - Satisfaction What do you consider to be the three greatest weaknesses of Central Arkansas Workforce? • Unskilled Workforce • Expectations too High • Lack of Education

32. Workforce – Local Workforce Level of Importance to Your Business • Top 3 Rated “Very Important” • Work Ethic • Productivity • Eagerness to Learn / Develop • Top 3 Rated “Not Important” • Scientific and Engineering • Entrepreneurial Skills • Diversity

33. Workforce – Local Workforce Current Status • Top 3 Rated “Very Good” • Loyalty • Employee Turnover • Work Ethic • Top 3 Rated “Poor” • Entrepreneurial Skills • Scientific and Engineering • Management

34. Workforce – Local Workforce Occupations in Central Arkansas Anticipated need now and up to one year from now Highest Need – MIS / Computer Systems Lowest Need– Scientist / Researcher Current Availability Highest Availability – Administrative Lowest Availability – Scientist / Researcher Quality Highest Quality – Executives Lowest Quality – Scientist / Researcher

35. Workforce – Local Workforce Which skills, if any, is your workforce lacking?

36. Workforce – Local Workforce How do you provide training?

37. Workforce – Development Programs Business and Industry Training Program (BITP) • 75% have never heard of BITP • 53% rate BITP as having “Good” quality • 61% rate BITP as having “No Relevance” • 77% think it needs improvement

38. Workforce – Development Programs Existing Workforce Training Program (EWPT) • 61% have never heard of EWPT • 44% rate EWPT as having “Good” quality • 54% EWPT as having “No Relevance” • 78% think it needs improvement

39. Workforce – Development Programs Top 3 Training Skills that will Benefit your Company • Computer • Technical • Communications

40. Outline • Economic Development Survey • Demographics • Satisfaction • Economic Development Perception • Workforce Survey • Demographics • Employment • Satisfaction • Local Workforce • Development Programs • Quotes from Economic Developers

41. Quotes from Economic Developers Generally speaking, most prospects are very surprised with what they find here. There is a level of sophistication that is unexpected; however, the area is not pretentious either. They tend to be impressed with the way everyone seems to know each other which makes it easy to get things done. Like the diversity of housing options. Cost of Living.

42. Quotes from Economic Developers We will depend on CAEDA to do our marketing/recruiting for us.

43. Quotes from Economic Developers We have an opportunity to do something wonderful here. Everyone needs to recognize the realistic desires of the individual member communities and support those efforts. How great would it be if Central Arkansas had the following to offer: LR with "big city" downtown; Hot Springs - artsy resort community; Conway - cool, young, college town; etc. etc. etc. Some communities may wish to be bedroom communities. My point is that our strength is in our diversity. We have the potential to offer the kind of environment that almost any prospect could want if we support one another and then Central Arkansas wins.

44. Quotes from Economic Developers CAEDA should seriously consider studying other regional organizations and see what works and doesn't work. Learn from professionals and implement good ideas for this region. Many CAEDA people tend to only look for answer within the walls of Arkansas.

45. Quotes from Economic Developers We must be cognizant of those smaller communities that need to be continuously educated on the value of this economic development approach. I'm concerned some of them will have pressure to not continue their membership unless they see immediate success.

46. Quotes from Economic Developers We won't produce results overnight. Success should be judged by development and execution of a strategic marketing plan.

47. Central Arkansas Economic Development Alliance Thank You