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| Economic Survey Rolled Out |
| Mary Jo Coulehan | 11/28/07 |
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The Archuleta Economic Development Association is performing a key business survey, in conjunction with the Ft. Lewis College Marketing Research class, looking specifically at business retention in Archuleta County.
The survey is a first step in understanding what business retention needs we have in our economy.
As any community grows, which is more important, business retention or business attraction? This is often a big community question, and cetainly one that Pagosa Springs is concerned about.
 The Pagosa Springs Chamber of Commerce is excited about this effort to get a better understanding on how to help local business owners succeed. We can then focus on filling in the gaps to make sure we retain and expand all of our key businesses. Without this data, we do not have a clear economic picture of our County, what is driving it, and how to ensure businesses succeed. It is difficult to know where to go if you don’t know where you’ve been or where you are.
The surveys were rolled out recently via e-mail, fax or in person to the businesses. Ft. Lewis students will now be contacting the businesses to assist in the completion of the surveys. We greatly appreciate business owners taking about 15 minutes out of their busy schedules to work on this survey. The more data we obtain, the better off Archuleta County will be in retaining its key businesses for our local economy.
Once business owners complete the survey, they can send the data back to AEDA via the following avenues: fax at 247-7623, scanned and e-mailed to mtech@centurytel.net, drop it off at the Chamber office, or simply call Bart Mitchell, AEDA Executive Director at 731-1443 and he will pick it up.
Many people wonder why we have two organizations that support the business community. AEDA, as most other economic development organizations focus, more on business attraction while the Chamber supports business retention. Bart Mitchell has recently done a stellar job putting together a website on the “economic” status of our community. This information is very important for local groups looking for statistical data for grants or business expansion and businesses or individuals interested in moving to this community. Just last year, the chamber separated the relocation requests on our website into residential and business requests as well as instituting an “opt out” question thereby giving AEDA, the chamber, realtors, and financial institutions a clearer idea of who is trying to relocate to Pagosa. In this way, AEDA can better “mentor” a potential business.
The Chamber and AEDA think that both retention and attraction are important to our community's economic health. This is why more recently the Chamber and AEDA have teamed up to provide business education classes, sharing of information, and direct links from our websites to help those interested in relocation and business information.
There are many facets in starting up a business and most community economic development associations are responsible for disseminating this information. Bart Mitchell is available to assist companies (existing and potential) with Enhanced Enterprise Zone Incentives or other tax credit information. In fact, Bart was the Chamber’s guest speaker at the October Business Bites lunch session on this topic. AEDA is also the first place for business relocation “one stop shopping”. This means that AEDA can assist potential businesses on site selection, determine infrastructure needs, and inform or assist with business incentives and financing information.
Both AEDA and the Chamber are focused on offering education courses so that businesses can maximize their business savvy and take away pointers to enhance their business practices. Both organizations are intent are making this community a successful business environment, increasing job availability and having Pagosa be a place where tourists can come and enjoy the area and residents can earn a sustainable income.
Just as the membership has participated in the Chamber survey for the past two years, we hope that you will take the time to partake of this AEDA study. Without statistics such as this survey is trying to garner, or occupancy statistics from the lodging community, it is difficult to develop a smart growth plan whether for tourism or the local business economy. Thank you for the business owners who are taking the time to help us grow smartly.
For more information or to find out about joining the Archuleta Economic Development Association, contact Bart Mitchell at 731-1443. |
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