Alaska MarineTrades Business Survey

A Business Retention and Expansion Survey

The Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development is conducting a business retention and expansion survey of the state’s maritime business and manufacturing industry. Information compiled under this survey will be used to assess sector specific needs by business type and region.

To assure we receive strong input from the marine trades sector, the Department is extending the survey through September 15, 2012. Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Your feedback is important and helps prioritize work aimed at strengthening Alaska's maritime and marine business sector. This survey should only take about 10 minutes of your time. Your answers will be treated anonymously.

If you have any questions, please contact Glenn Haight, glenn.haight@alaska.gov, 907-465-6144.

1. Please identify the primary port/harbor (most activity, headquartered, other) and secondary port(s) where you work or do business.

	Ports/Harbors
Primary	Please identify the primary port/harbor (most activity, headquartered, other) and secondary port(s) where you work or do business. Primary Ports/Harbors
Secondary1	Secondary1 Ports/Harbors
Secondary2	Secondary2 Ports/Harbors
Secondary3	Secondary3 Ports/Harbors
Secondary4	Secondary4 Ports/Harbors

Please list all other locations

2. How long has this business been in operation?

	Years
Year in operation	How long has this business been in operation? Year in operation Years

3. How would you classify your business? (check all that apply)

How would you classify your business? (check all that apply) Boat building / repair Boat building supplies / Chandlers Boat cleaning/detailing Boat lettering & graphics Boat/gear hauling & storage Boats for hire IFQ/charter Brokers (Permits/Boats/IFQ) Bunkering Carpentry Carpeting / Interior / Upholstery Cleaning (tank, boilers, bilges) Commercial fishing Education and training Electrical repair Engine repair Engine sales Engineering Fiberglass repair	Financial Fish buyers & processors Fishing Bait Fishing Gear (includes net makers) Fuel General Hardware Glassworks Government agency Groceries Harbormaster Hydraulics Ice Laundry /Bathrooms Manufacture sewn products for fisheries and marine application Marine architecture Marine electronics & communications Marine organizations / associations Marine pilot	Marine surveyor Medical Metal/machine shops - metalwork, fabrication, welding Non-profit Other federal offices Port agent Propellers Safety equipment / supplies Salvage Shipbuilding / repair Shipping Tug & barge USCG Licensed Engineer Rating USCG Licensed Officers (Deck) USCG Licensed Officers (Engineer) USCG Licensed Seaman Rating(Ordinary or Able Bodied) Wood repair
Other (please specify)

4. Please estimate the composition of your annual customer base as a percent of total business activity (Should total 100%).

Please estimate the composition of your annual customer base as a percent of total business activity (Should total 100%). Commercial Fishermen
Commercial Charter operators (eg: sport fishing or whale watching)
Cruise Line Companies
Government sector
Non-resident recreation
Resident recreation
Timber operations
Mining operations
Seafood processing
Oil & Gas operations
Barge lines
Other marine related businesses
Other non-marine related businesses

5. Please estimate as a percentage of your annual businesses activity, the origin of your customers (Should total 100%).

Please estimate as a percentage of your annual businesses activity, the origin of your customers (Should total 100%). Local Resident
Regional Resident (Not local)
Statewide Resident (Not- local and Not - regional)
Domestic / U.S. (Not - Alaska)
International

6. Is a lack of customers currently a problem for your business?

Is a lack of customers currently a problem for your business? Significant Problem

Moderate Problem

Little or No Problem

Don't Know

Other (please specify)

7. Please identify your interest level in the following items.

	Very interested	Somewhat interested	Little or no interest	Do not know
Assistance identifying local customers.	*Please identify your interest level in the following items. Assistance identifying local customers. Very interested	Assistance identifying local customers. Somewhat interested	Assistance identifying local customers. Little or no interest	Assistance identifying local customers. Do not know
Growing your business.	Growing your business. Very interested	Growing your business. Somewhat interested	Growing your business. Little or no interest	Growing your business. Do not know

8. What are your expectations for the future of your business?

	Significant Growth	Moderate Growth	Remain the Same	Moderate Downsize	Significant Downsize	Don't Know
Overall Business Size [Current Year]	*What are your expectations for the future of your business? Overall Business Size [Current Year] Significant Growth	Overall Business Size [Current Year] Moderate Growth	Overall Business Size [Current Year] Remain the Same	Overall Business Size [Current Year] Moderate Downsize	Overall Business Size [Current Year] Significant Downsize	Overall Business Size [Current Year] Don't Know
Overall Business Size [In 5 Years]	Overall Business Size [In 5 Years] Significant Growth	Overall Business Size [In 5 Years] Moderate Growth	Overall Business Size [In 5 Years] Remain the Same	Overall Business Size [In 5 Years] Moderate Downsize	Overall Business Size [In 5 Years] Significant Downsize	Overall Business Size [In 5 Years] Don't Know
Overall Business Size [In 10 Years]	Overall Business Size [In 10 Years] Significant Growth	Overall Business Size [In 10 Years] Moderate Growth	Overall Business Size [In 10 Years] Remain the Same	Overall Business Size [In 10 Years] Moderate Downsize	Overall Business Size [In 10 Years] Significant Downsize	Overall Business Size [In 10 Years] Don't Know
Plant / Facility Size	Plant / Facility Size Significant Growth	Plant / Facility Size Moderate Growth	Plant / Facility Size Remain the Same	Plant / Facility Size Moderate Downsize	Plant / Facility Size Significant Downsize	Plant / Facility Size Don't Know
Employment Quantity	Employment Quantity Significant Growth	Employment Quantity Moderate Growth	Employment Quantity Remain the Same	Employment Quantity Moderate Downsize	Employment Quantity Significant Downsize	Employment Quantity Don't Know

Other (please specify)

9. Do the following areas challenge the future of your business?

	Significant Challenge	Moderate Challenge	Little or No Challenge	Don't Know
Workforce Availability	*Do the following areas challenge the future of your business? Workforce Availability Significant Challenge	Workforce Availability Moderate Challenge	Workforce Availability Little or No Challenge	Workforce Availability Don't Know
Workforce Quality	Workforce Quality Significant Challenge	Workforce Quality Moderate Challenge	Workforce Quality Little or No Challenge	Workforce Quality Don't Know
Fisheries Management	Fisheries Management Significant Challenge	Fisheries Management Moderate Challenge	Fisheries Management Little or No Challenge	Fisheries Management Don't Know
Financial Resources	Financial Resources Significant Challenge	Financial Resources Moderate Challenge	Financial Resources Little or No Challenge	Financial Resources Don't Know
Taxation	Taxation Significant Challenge	Taxation Moderate Challenge	Taxation Little or No Challenge	Taxation Don't Know
Government Regulation	Government Regulation Significant Challenge	Government Regulation Moderate Challenge	Government Regulation Little or No Challenge	Government Regulation Don't Know

Other (please specify)

10. What is your overall expectation regarding the following scenarios?

	Very Likely	Somewhat Likely	Not Likely	Don't Know
Operating in 1 year	*What is your overall expectation regarding the following scenarios? Operating in 1 year Very Likely	Operating in 1 year Somewhat Likely	Operating in 1 year Not Likely	Operating in 1 year Don't Know
Operating in 5 years	Operating in 5 years Very Likely	Operating in 5 years Somewhat Likely	Operating in 5 years Not Likely	Operating in 5 years Don't Know
Operating in 10 years	Operating in 10 years Very Likely	Operating in 10 years Somewhat Likely	Operating in 10 years Not Likely	Operating in 10 years Don't Know

Other (please specify)

11. Please identify the number of employees working in your business including you and family members.

	1 - 3	4 - 10	11 - 20	21+
Full time	*Please identify the number of employees working in your business including you and family members. Full time 1 - 3	Full time 4 - 10	Full time 11 - 20	Full time 21+
Part time / seasonal	Part time / seasonal 1 - 3	Part time / seasonal 4 - 10	Part time / seasonal 11 - 20	Part time / seasonal 21+

12. List your employee type, both permanent and part time / seasonal as a percent. (Should total 100%)

List your employee type, both permanent and part time / seasonal as a percent. (Should total 100%) Professional / Management
Skilled
Semi-Skilled
Unskilled
Clerical

13. Please estimate the number of independent contractors that you employ annually.

Please estimate the number of independent contractors that you employ annually. None	1 - 3	4 -10	11 - 20	21+
Comment here

14. How would you rate the quality of the local labor pool as it relates to your business?

	Very Good	Good	Fair	Poor	Don't Know
Professional/Management	*How would you rate the quality of the local labor pool as it relates to your business? Professional/Management Very Good	Professional/Management Good	Professional/Management Fair	Professional/Management Poor	Professional/Management Don't Know
Skilled	Skilled Very Good	Skilled Good	Skilled Fair	Skilled Poor	Skilled Don't Know
Semi-Skilled	Semi-Skilled Very Good	Semi-Skilled Good	Semi-Skilled Fair	Semi-Skilled Poor	Semi-Skilled Don't Know
Unskilled	Unskilled Very Good	Unskilled Good	Unskilled Fair	Unskilled Poor	Unskilled Don't Know
Clerical	Clerical Very Good	Clerical Good	Clerical Fair	Clerical Poor	Clerical Don't Know

15. Please indicate your workforce hiring status now and in the future.

	Hiring	Stable	Downsizing	Don't Know
Current	*Please indicate your workforce hiring status now and in the future. Current Hiring	Current Stable	Current Downsizing	Current Don't Know
Short - Term (< 2 years)	Short - Term (< 2 years) Hiring	Short - Term (< 2 years) Stable	Short - Term (< 2 years) Downsizing	Short - Term (< 2 years) Don't Know
Long - Term (> 2 Years)	Long - Term (> 2 Years) Hiring	Long - Term (> 2 Years) Stable	Long - Term (> 2 Years) Downsizing	Long - Term (> 2 Years) Don't Know

Other (please specify)

16. How would you rate the following potential recruitment challenges in your business?

	Significant Problem	Moderate Problem	Little or No problem	Don't Know
Labor Supply Shortage	*How would you rate the following potential recruitment challenges in your business? Labor Supply Shortage Significant Problem	Labor Supply Shortage Moderate Problem	Labor Supply Shortage Little or No problem	Labor Supply Shortage Don't Know
Skills Not Adequate	Skills Not Adequate Significant Problem	Skills Not Adequate Moderate Problem	Skills Not Adequate Little or No problem	Skills Not Adequate Don't Know
Distance to Job Site	Distance to Job Site Significant Problem	Distance to Job Site Moderate Problem	Distance to Job Site Little or No problem	Distance to Job Site Don't Know
Available Housing	Available Housing Significant Problem	Available Housing Moderate Problem	Available Housing Little or No problem	Available Housing Don't Know
Affordable Housing	Affordable Housing Significant Problem	Affordable Housing Moderate Problem	Affordable Housing Little or No problem	Affordable Housing Don't Know

Other (please specify)

17. Please indicate the level of threat each of these presents to the overall viability of your business.

	Severely Threatens	Somewhat Threatens	Little or No Threat	Don't Know
Short-Term General Business Activity in your area (next 2 years)	*Please indicate the level of threat each of these presents to the overall viability of your business. Short-Term General Business Activity in your area (next 2 years) Severely Threatens	Short-Term General Business Activity in your area (next 2 years) Somewhat Threatens	Short-Term General Business Activity in your area (next 2 years) Little or No Threat	Short-Term General Business Activity in your area (next 2 years) Don't Know
Long-Term General Business Activity in your area (3 - 5 years)	Long-Term General Business Activity in your area (3 - 5 years) Severely Threatens	Long-Term General Business Activity in your area (3 - 5 years) Somewhat Threatens	Long-Term General Business Activity in your area (3 - 5 years) Little or No Threat	Long-Term General Business Activity in your area (3 - 5 years) Don't Know
Workforce Quantity	Workforce Quantity Severely Threatens	Workforce Quantity Somewhat Threatens	Workforce Quantity Little or No Threat	Workforce Quantity Don't Know
Workforce Quality	Workforce Quality Severely Threatens	Workforce Quality Somewhat Threatens	Workforce Quality Little or No Threat	Workforce Quality Don't Know
Workforce Cost	Workforce Cost Severely Threatens	Workforce Cost Somewhat Threatens	Workforce Cost Little or No Threat	Workforce Cost Don't Know
Competition	Competition Severely Threatens	Competition Somewhat Threatens	Competition Little or No Threat	Competition Don't Know
Utilities/Services Availability	Utilities/Services Availability Severely Threatens	Utilities/Services Availability Somewhat Threatens	Utilities/Services Availability Little or No Threat	Utilities/Services Availability Don't Know
Utilities/Services Cost	Utilities/Services Cost Severely Threatens	Utilities/Services Cost Somewhat Threatens	Utilities/Services Cost Little or No Threat	Utilities/Services Cost Don't Know
Telecommunications Availability	Telecommunications Availability Severely Threatens	Telecommunications Availability Somewhat Threatens	Telecommunications Availability Little or No Threat	Telecommunications Availability Don't Know
Telecommunications Cost	Telecommunications Cost Severely Threatens	Telecommunications Cost Somewhat Threatens	Telecommunications Cost Little or No Threat	Telecommunications Cost Don't Know
Transportation Availability	Transportation Availability Severely Threatens	Transportation Availability Somewhat Threatens	Transportation Availability Little or No Threat	Transportation Availability Don't Know
Transportation Cost	Transportation Cost Severely Threatens	Transportation Cost Somewhat Threatens	Transportation Cost Little or No Threat	Transportation Cost Don't Know
Federal/State Taxes	Federal/State Taxes Severely Threatens	Federal/State Taxes Somewhat Threatens	Federal/State Taxes Little or No Threat	Federal/State Taxes Don't Know
Local Taxes	Local Taxes Severely Threatens	Local Taxes Somewhat Threatens	Local Taxes Little or No Threat	Local Taxes Don't Know
Government Regulation	Government Regulation Severely Threatens	Government Regulation Somewhat Threatens	Government Regulation Little or No Threat	Government Regulation Don't Know
Available land to expand	Available land to expand Severely Threatens	Available land to expand Somewhat Threatens	Available land to expand Little or No Threat	Available land to expand Don't Know
Environmental Issues	Environmental Issues Severely Threatens	Environmental Issues Somewhat Threatens	Environmental Issues Little or No Threat	Environmental Issues Don't Know
Lack of Available Marketing Dollars	Lack of Available Marketing Dollars Severely Threatens	Lack of Available Marketing Dollars Somewhat Threatens	Lack of Available Marketing Dollars Little or No Threat	Lack of Available Marketing Dollars Don't Know
Product Demand	Product Demand Severely Threatens	Product Demand Somewhat Threatens	Product Demand Little or No Threat	Product Demand Don't Know
Access to Capital	Access to Capital Severely Threatens	Access to Capital Somewhat Threatens	Access to Capital Little or No Threat	Access to Capital Don't Know
Production Process	Production Process Severely Threatens	Production Process Somewhat Threatens	Production Process Little or No Threat	Production Process Don't Know

Other (please specify)

18. What are the three greatest challenges to your business?

What are the three greatest challenges to your business? Greatest Challenge
Second Greatest Challenge
Third Greatest Challenge

19. What are the three greatest challenges to your industry?

What are the three greatest challenges to your industry? Greatest Challenge
Second Greatest Challenge
Third Greatest Challenge

20. Please provide contact information. All answers except "City/Town" are optional.

Please provide contact information. All answers except "City/Town" are optional. Name:
Company:
Address:
Address 2:
City/Town:
State:
ZIP:
Country:
Email Address:
Phone Number: