The results of a county-wide business retention and expansion survey, were unveiled to Wellington North council at its April 28 meeting.
County economic development officer Jana Reichert and business retention coordinator Carolyn O’Donnell presented the findings of the survey, which saw 270 businesses interviewed, including 32 in Wellington North.
“We had a goal of 215 businesses and we surpassed that,” Reichert told council. “(The study) made for a lot of great connections within the business community.”
The quality of life in the county received the highest approval rating at 88 per cent and included high scores for fire and police services, libraries, community support, snow removal and conditions of regional and provincial highways.
O’Donnell said the survey also turned up some surprising responses, including one received about libraries which are currently undergoing substantial renovations.
“He thought (they) were so beautiful he would take his first date there,” she said.
Businesses were interviewed in agricultural, manufacturing, health care and creative economy sectors.
The survey found 76% of all new jobs and capital investment come from existing businesses. Of those businesses, 43% plan to expand, 52% predict growth in their industry and 58% predict sales will increase, Reichert said.
The survey also found concerns on the part of owners that included a lack of skilled workers and difficulty hiring new employees, lack of high speed internet across the county, lack of affordable housing, public transit and child care. Concern was also raised about lending practices at traditional banks.
“High skill, high paying jobs are in demand,” Reichert said. “Forty per cent of business we spoke with said they have problems hiring.”
Reichert said the county plan is to have an interactive website for new and existing businesses, taking the message of career opportunities within the skilled trade sector to high school students, and making programs available to businesses such as health and safety training.
The county has committed $175,000 ($25,000 to each of the seven lower tier municipalities) for economic development ventures at the local level.
“There’s a lot of optimism in the business community,” Reichert told council.
