central arkansas economic development alliance survey report 2 may 7, 2004

Central Arkansas Central Arkansas Economic Development Economic Development

AllianceAlliance

Survey Report 2Survey Report 2May 7, 2004May 7, 2004

• Economic Development SurveyTotal Responses as of May 7 , 2004

999999• Workforce Survey

Total Responses as of May 7, 2004

192192

Respondents

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

www.LocateCentralArkansas.com

Outline• Economic Development Survey

• Demographics• Satisfaction• Economic Development Perception

• Workforce Survey• Demographics• Employment• Satisfaction• Local Workforce• Development Programs

• Quotes from Economic Developers

Economic Development - Demographics

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35P

erce

nt

$0-$25K $26-$50K $51-$75K $76+

Annual Income


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Per

cen

t

Male Female

Gender


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

Pe

rce

nt

White Hispanic AfricanAmerican

Asian Other

Ethnicity


05

10152025303540

Pe

rce

nt

So

me

Hig

hS

cho

ol

H.S

. G

rad

uat

e

Un

der

gra

du

ate

Deg

ree

Gra

du

ate

and

Ab

ove O

ther

Years of Education

Economic Development - DemographicsWhere do you live Where do you work

Conway County Garland County

Hot Spring County Lonoke County

Pulaski County White County

Faulkner County Grant County

Jefferson County Perry County

Saline County Other






Saline County Other


05

101520253035404550

Per

cen

t

0-15 16-30 31-45 46-60 61 +

Commute Time to Work

Economic Development - DemographicsTop 5 Occupations1. Management2. Business and Financial3. Education, Training, and Library4. Office and Administrative5. Sales and Related

Top 5 Industries1. Utilities2. Education3. Finance and Insurance4. Public Administration5. Healthcare and Social Assistance

Economic Development - SatisfactionEducation

Highest Satisfaction – Community Colleges Lowest Satisfaction – 9-12 Education

LivabilityHighest Satisfaction 1. Outdoor Recreation2. Family Environment 3. Good Healthcare

Lowest Satisfaction1. Traffic2. Growth Management3. Low Crime

Economic Development - SatisfactionInfrastructure

Highest Satisfaction – Driving Time to Work Lowest Satisfaction – Public Transportation

Working EnvironmentHighest Satisfaction – Equal Opportunity Lowest Satisfaction – High Paying Jobs

General EconomyHighest Satisfaction – Tourism Promotion Lowest Satisfaction – Effective Government Leadership

Economic Development - Perception

Top Five Industries survey respondents would like to see either expand or locate in Central Arkansas

1. Software Computer Development2. Professional Services3. Healthcare / Medical Research4. Manufacturing5. Electronics


What does effective Economic Development mean to survey respondents

More Jobs in Central

ArkansasNew

Companies opening in

Central Arkansas


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


0

10

20

30

40

50

60P

erce

nt

Good Bad NoPerception

What do you believe the Nation’s perception of Central Arkansas to be?


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Per

cen

t

Good Bad NoPerception

How do the people of Central Arkansas perceive their community?


Central Arkansas’s Biggest Asset

1. Potential

2. Scenic Beauty

3. Affordability


One Word Descriptors

OpportunityPotentialEagerComfortableUndiscovered

FamilyFriendlyAwesomeSproutingAffordable

Economic Development - DemographicsCompany Location Employee Residence






Saline County






Saline County

Workforce - Demographics

What type of product or service does your company provide?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Electronics

Durable Goods

Business Services

Computer

Software

Bio / Medical

Consulting

Other

Percent

Workforce - Employment

How many employees do you currently have?

0 20 40 60 80 100

1 to 50

50 to 99

100 to 499

500 to 999

1000 to 5000

5000 +

Percent


How many employees did you hire last year?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

None

1 to 9

10 to 49

50 to 99

100 to 199

200 +

Percent


How many employees do you plan to hire within the next year?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

None

1 to 9

10 to 49

50 to 99

100 to 199

200 +

Percent


What is the level of difficulty and cost of recruiting outside the region

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Very Difficult

Difficult

Easy

Not Applicable

Percent


How do you find new employees?

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35

Walk in

Internet

Networking

Recruiter

Community College or Technical School

Percent

Workforce - Satisfaction

What do you consider to be the three greatest strengths of Central Arkansas

Workforce?

1. Work Ethic

2. Low Cost

3. Availability

Workforce - Satisfaction

What do you consider to be the three greatest weaknesses of Central Arkansas

Workforce?

1. Unskilled Workforce

2. Expectations too High

3. Lack of Education

Workforce – Local Workforce

Top 3 Rated “Very Important”1. Work Ethic2. Productivity3. Eagerness to Learn / Develop

Top 3 Rated “Not Important”1. Scientific and Engineering2. Entrepreneurial Skills3. Diversity

Level of Importance to Your Business


Top 3 Rated “Very Good”1. Loyalty2. Employee Turnover3. Work Ethic

Top 3 Rated “Poor”1. Entrepreneurial Skills 2. Scientific and Engineering3. Management

Current Status


Anticipated need now and up to one year from nowHighest Need – MIS / Computer Systems Lowest Need– Scientist / Researcher

Current AvailabilityHighest Availability – Administrative Lowest Availability – Scientist / Researcher

QualityHighest Quality – ExecutivesLowest Quality – Scientist / Researcher

Occupations in Central Arkansas

Workforce – Local WorkforceWhich skills, if any, is your workforce lacking?

0 5 10 15 20 25

Basic

Interpersonal

Job Specific

Technical

Adminstrative

Management

Communications

Computer

Customer Service

English

Other

Percent

Workforce – Local WorkforceHow do you provide training?

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

In House

Outsourced PrivateCompany

Local University orCommunity College

State Employment /Workforce Development

Agency

Percent

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


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


1. Computer

2. Technical

3. Communications

Top 3 Training Skills that will Benefit your Company

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.


We will depend on CAEDA to do

our marketing/recrui

ting for us.


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.


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.


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.


We won't produce results overnight. Success should be

judged by development and

execution of a strategic marketing

plan.

Central Arkansas Central Arkansas Economic Development Economic Development

AllianceAlliance

Thank YouThank You

central arkansas economic development alliance survey report 2 may 7, 2004

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