APPENDIX B KEY FINDINGS OF 3 PERCEPTION SURVEYS

WHO WE SURVEYED

• Site Selection Consultants

• Talent

• Stakeholders

• 36 total responses from Site Selection Consultants based in Georgia and the Northeast

• A split divide in visitation

• Primary purpose of visit was Business (78%), followed by,

• Visiting family/friends (22%)

• Vacation (6%)

• Convention/Conference (6%)

• Other (6%)

Site Selection Consultants

Yes, 50%

No, 50%

Visited Fayette County?

Rating of Select State Business Climates

4.1 4.1

3.7 3.73.6

3.1

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

South Carolina Georgia Alabama Florida Virginia North Carolina

Rating of Select MSA Business Climates

3.9 3.93.8

3.5

3.2

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Atlanta, GA Charleston, SC Research Triangle, NC Charlotte, NC Asheville, NC

Perceptions of Region on Select Location Factors

3.2

3.4

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.5

3.6

3.6

3.7

3.7

3.7

0 1 2 3 4 5

Quality of K-12 education

Available sites/buildings

Availability of skilled workers

Ability to recruit talent from outside of the region

Corporate tax rate

Proximity to customers/suppliers

Real estate and/or construction costs

Competitive labor costs

Quality of Life

Low overall operating costs

Cost of living

Competitive state/local incentives

Overall business climate

Associated Industries

45%

32%29%

19% 19% 19% 19%16%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Strengths of Fayette County

Top Strengths

1. Labor Availability (20%)

2. Transportation (15%)

3. Logistics (15%)

4. Airport Proximity (12%)

5. Business Climate (12%)

Weaknesses of Fayette County

Top Weaknesses

1. Traffic (30%)

2. Population (11%)

3. Quality of Life (11%)

4. Business Climate (7%)

5. Infrastructure (7%)

6. Cost of business (7%)

Recent Projects

Yes, 33%

No, 67%

Explored a Fayette County Location for a Client

• Only 8% of projects where Fayette County was considered ultimately ended up in Fayette County

• Top reasons for not locating in Fayette County:• Competitor locations• Population density• Real estate• Workforce turnover

“Considered a safe suburb to work and live near Atlanta.”

“It's a great place to work and live. There are many great communities within short driving distance that offer a good quality of life including employment opportunities.”

• 250 total responses from individuals ages 25-44 from Atlanta Metro Area

• Only 10% of respondents have lived in Fayette County

• Educational attainment of respondents: • Bachelor’s: 38%• 1-3 years of college: 20%• Master’s: 15%• High school: 12%• Associate’s: 10%• Doctorate: 3%• Professional degree: 2%

Talent

Familiarity with Fayette County

0%

7%

12%

24%

26%

53%

61%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Other

Woolsey

Brooks

I don't know any cities in Fayette County

Tyrone

Peachtree City

Fayetteville

Interest in Relocating to Fayette County

Yes, 40%

Not sure, 42%

No, 18%

“More convenient public transportation were available”

“I WOULD

CONSIDER

MOVING TO

FAYETTE

COUNTY IF…”

PHOTO

PHOTO

“I could find a good home at a decent price, and my work commute was

manageable”

“There were more people and interesting things to do.”

“It included a university where I could work and sufficient amenities associated with Urban Living.”

“There was high quality education cultural activities, and attractive housing.”

Talent Perceptions vs. Importance of Factor in Relocation Decision – Quality of Life Factors

Quality of Life Factors: A. Presence of a college/university

B. Active social scene/nightlife

C. Walk-ability/public transportation

D. Diverse population

E. Political climate

F. Cultural amenities

G. Tax climate

H. Outdoor recreation

I. Proximity to family/friends

J. Quality of K-12 education

K. Housing availability

L. Housing cost

Talent Perceptions vs. Importance of Factor in Relocation Decision – Career & Professional Development Factors

2.9

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.0

3.1

3.2

3.4

3.9

4.0

0 1 2 3 4 5

Post-secondary educational opportunities

Strong entrepreneurial culture

Diverse industry base

Alternative job opportunities for yourself

Job opportunities for your spouse/partner

Importance of Factor Fayette Co. Rating

Associated Words

Interest in Fayette County

“Just 30 minutes from downtown Atlanta,

Fayette County residents enjoy access to dining

and shopping centers, historical downtowns,

lush green spaces for outdoor recreation, and

100+ miles of paths for walking, biking and golf

carts all within the County. In addition to its

top-ranked K-12 schools and low cost of living,

Fayette County is also home to Pinewood

Studios, which has earned the region a

reputation as “The Hollywood of the South,”

and Zac Brown’s Southern Ground

headquarters for his creative endeavors. Not to

mention, Fayette County’s cities consistently

rank among the best in the nation for families

and safety.”

Less interested, 3%

Unchanged39%

More interested, 58%

Associated Industries

1%

7%

7%

10%

10%

11%

18%

36%

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40%

Other

Data Processing

Headquarters

Advanced Manufacturing

Information Technology

Aviation/Aerospace

Film/New Media

None of the above

Top Sources of Information in Relocation Decisions

3.9 3.8 3.73.4

2.9 2.8 2.8

0.0

1.0

2.0

3.0

4.0

5.0

Most Useful Resources When Considering Move

0%

17%

31%

51%

51%

75%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80%

Other

General marketing brochures on the location as a greatplace to live and work

Website that promotes the location as a desirable place tolive and work for those in your industry

Relocation packages/information about living and workingin the location

Ability to talk to someone in your industry who iscurrently living and working in the location under

consideration

The chance to visit the location to see and experience thelocation first hand

• 75 stakeholders

• Good distribution of longer term residents and more recent arrivals. ➢ 22.8% - less than 10

years.➢ 15.7% - more than 30

years

• Responding stakeholders are generally older with only 19.7% below the age of 50.

Stakeholders

MOST IMPORTANT AUDIENCES

1. Potential businesses or investors out of the area

2. Businesses currently operating in the city, region, state

3. Corporate site selectors or real estate brokers who advise executives

4. Potential residents

5. Current residents

6. Tourists/visitors

Rating Fayette County…

5.6

6.6

7.7

8.5

9.0

0 2 4 6 8 10

A great place to start oradvance a career?

A great place to visit?

A great place to dobusiness or invest?

A great place to live?

A great place to raise afamily?

FAYETTE COUNTY AS A PLACE TO LIVE

FAYETTE COUNTY FOR A CAREER

Cities/Areas to Emulate

1.Greenville, SC

2.Chattanooga, TN

3.Suwanee, GA

4.Williams County, TN

5.Coweta County, GA

“What is

Fayette

County Like

In Your Own

Words?”

“It's a great place to raise your family-safe, great schools, lots of green space, and close to the airport & Atlanta w/o being too close.” “Without

Peachtree City, I could not recommend Fayette County.”

“It's a suburb south of Atlanta, probably the best place to raise a family and striving to be something a little more.”

“A county under serious threat from outside stresses of development and visionaries that are after financial gains and not nirvana.”