WHAT DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED?

YOU SPEAK...WE LISTEN - 5 minutes to complete

Dear Business leaders in the Walnut Creek region:

The coalition of business organizations in the Walnut Creek region are conducting the following business needs assessment to help each organization address the needs identified. As we convene leaders and influencers to make things happen, the results gathered here will help us advocate for change.

The insights from this survey will be instrumental in developing support mechanisms and policies that respond to our diverse business landscape's needs. We urge every business leader, entrepreneur, and manager to share their experiences and challenges.

Your input is vital and the survey is timed at 5 minutes for "check the box" responses. Please take a few extra minutes to share your thoughts and concerns about doing business in the Walnut Creek region. If you'd like to enter a drawing for a $500 award, please provide your name and email address at the end of the survey.

Question Title

1. INTRODUCTION
In what sector(s) do you work? (check all that apply)

Advertising, Media, Photography

Arts, Culture, Entertainment, Sports

Automotive, Aviation, Transportation

Computers, Wireless, Electronics

Consulting Services

Education

Government

Healthcare/Medical

Hospitality

Insurance, Finance

Lodging, Travel

Manufacturing, Production, Wholesale

Non-profit/community-based organization

Personal Services

Professional and Business Services

Real Estate, Development, Construction

Restaurant, Food & Beverage

Retail

Technology

Utilities

Other (please specify)

Question Title

2. What is your position with the company or organization?

Executive Management: Owner, CEO, President

Senior Management: C-Suite, SVP, VP

Mid-Management: Director or Department Head

Other Management: Manager, Supervisor

Self Employed

Sales & Marketing Specialist

Government Affairs Specialist

Not Employed: Retired, student, in transition

Other (please describe)

Question Title

3. Please tell us about your history, location, and employees in the area:
How many years have you been employed by or owned the entity?

Under one year

1-3 years

4-7 years

8-10 years

More than 10 years

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4. Approximately how many years has this entity been located in the Walnut Creek region?

Under one year

1-3 years

4-7 years

8-10 years

More than 10 years

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5. How many full-time equivalent staff do you have in this region? (Include yourself)

5 staff members or under

6-10

11-12

21-40

41-50

More than 50

Question Title

6. In what city is your business/organization - office/work setting located?

Walnut Creek

Pleasant Hill

Concord

Martinez

Danville/San Ramon

Lafayette/Moraga/Orinda

Other (please specify)

Question Title

7. Do you have remote staff?

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8. If yes, number of days working remote?

One day a week

Two days a week

Three days a week

Fully remote

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9. Is your business located in Downtown Walnut Creek or adjacent?

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10. CURRENT BUSINESS ISSUES AND PLANS
Which of these actions is your company or organization considering over the next 1-2 years? (select all that apply)

Expanding at our current location

Expanding to a new location

Moving out of the Walnut Creek area

Moving to a smaller location

Merging with or acquiring another business

Downsizing space

Downsizing staff

Increasing staff

Selling the business

Closing the business

Returning to in-person work

Continued hybrid work

Continued work from home

Staying the present course

None of the above

Question Title

11. How much do these external factors negatively affect your business or organization?

	A Lot	Some	Not at all	No response
Competition	Competition A Lot	Competition Some	Competition Not at all	Competition No response
Overall economic conditions	Overall economic conditions A Lot	Overall economic conditions Some	Overall economic conditions Not at all	Overall economic conditions No response
Financing and interest rates	Financing and interest rates A Lot	Financing and interest rates Some	Financing and interest rates Not at all	Financing and interest rates No response
Government regulations	Government regulations A Lot	Government regulations Some	Government regulations Not at all	Government regulations No response
Government taxes & fees	Government taxes & fees A Lot	Government taxes & fees Some	Government taxes & fees Not at all	Government taxes & fees No response
Healthcare/employee benefits	Healthcare/employee benefits A Lot	Healthcare/employee benefits Some	Healthcare/employee benefits Not at all	Healthcare/employee benefits No response
Lack of foot traffic	Lack of foot traffic A Lot	Lack of foot traffic Some	Lack of foot traffic Not at all	Lack of foot traffic No response
Inflation (gas, cost of raw materials and supplies)	Inflation (gas, cost of raw materials and supplies) A Lot	Inflation (gas, cost of raw materials and supplies) Some	Inflation (gas, cost of raw materials and supplies) Not at all	Inflation (gas, cost of raw materials and supplies) No response
Available talent and skill in the workforce	Available talent and skill in the workforce A Lot	Available talent and skill in the workforce Some	Available talent and skill in the workforce Not at all	Available talent and skill in the workforce No response
Hybrid and work-from-home workforce	Hybrid and work-from-home workforce A Lot	Hybrid and work-from-home workforce Some	Hybrid and work-from-home workforce Not at all	Hybrid and work-from-home workforce No response
Supply chain issues	Supply chain issues A Lot	Supply chain issues Some	Supply chain issues Not at all	Supply chain issues No response
Public safety around my business	Public safety around my business A Lot	Public safety around my business Some	Public safety around my business Not at all	Public safety around my business No response

Question Title

12. What do you regard as the single greatest threat/challenge facing your business or organization?

Question Title

13. How much do these internal factors affect your performance, positively or negitively?

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14. Where do you generally turn to help, understand, and address the challenges your business or organization are facing?

City Hall

Chamber of Commerce

Downtown Association

Elected Officials

State or local agencies

Small Business Administration

Industry-related organizations

Consultants

Peers/other professionals

Other (please describe)

Question Title

15. WHAT HELP DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED?
How beneficial would the following professional development offerings be in supporting the success of your business or organization?

	Very Beneficial	Moderately	Not Beneficial
Business planning, strategies for growth/scaling	Business planning, strategies for growth/scaling Very Beneficial	Business planning, strategies for growth/scaling Moderately	Business planning, strategies for growth/scaling Not Beneficial
Financial planning and management	Financial planning and management Very Beneficial	Financial planning and management Moderately	Financial planning and management Not Beneficial
Health & wellness in the workplace	Health & wellness in the workplace Very Beneficial	Health & wellness in the workplace Moderately	Health & wellness in the workplace Not Beneficial
Human Resources/employment law	Human Resources/employment law Very Beneficial	Human Resources/employment law Moderately	Human Resources/employment law Not Beneficial
Leadership skills/coaching	Leadership skills/coaching Very Beneficial	Leadership skills/coaching Moderately	Leadership skills/coaching Not Beneficial
Marketing (traditional and social media)	Marketing (traditional and social media) Very Beneficial	Marketing (traditional and social media) Moderately	Marketing (traditional and social media) Not Beneficial
Operations	Operations Very Beneficial	Operations Moderately	Operations Not Beneficial
Access to affordable legal advice	Access to affordable legal advice Very Beneficial	Access to affordable legal advice Moderately	Access to affordable legal advice Not Beneficial
How to seek access to capital to support growth in the business	How to seek access to capital to support growth in the business Very Beneficial	How to seek access to capital to support growth in the business Moderately	How to seek access to capital to support growth in the business Not Beneficial
Sales skills	Sales skills Very Beneficial	Sales skills Moderately	Sales skills Not Beneficial
Technology/AI	Technology/AI Very Beneficial	Technology/AI Moderately	Technology/AI Not Beneficial
Collaboration/Management tools for team (Workplace/remote/hybrid)	Collaboration/Management tools for team (Workplace/remote/hybrid) Very Beneficial	Collaboration/Management tools for team (Workplace/remote/hybrid) Moderately	Collaboration/Management tools for team (Workplace/remote/hybrid) Not Beneficial

Question Title

16. What other professional development offerings would be of interest to you?

Question Title

17. Which of these topics/activities would be of interest to you? (check all that apply)

Networking to increase your client base

Professional development/continuing education and training for myself and my team

Opportunity to present educational content to other business-people

Business to business discounts

Healthcare solutions for small businesses and individuals

Developing business partnerships/collaboration

Participation in business referral and learning groups

Women/minorities in leadership

Government affairs engagement/business-concerns advocacy

How to find trusted suppliers and vendors

Community/nonprofit outreach

Business coaching/counseling

Other (please describe)

Question Title

18. If you would like to be entered in a drawing for $500, please provide your name and email below.
Contact Information (Optional)

Name

Email Address

Question Title

19. Do you want to opt out of receiving further communication?

Thank you for your time and participation. Your comments and answers are truly appreciated.

	A lot	Some	Not at all	No response
NEGATIVE INFLUENCES Access to capital, cash flow	NEGATIVE INFLUENCES Access to capital, cash flow A lot	NEGATIVE INFLUENCES Access to capital, cash flow Some	NEGATIVE INFLUENCES Access to capital, cash flow Not at all	NEGATIVE INFLUENCES Access to capital, cash flow No response
Poor sales	Poor sales A lot	Poor sales Some	Poor sales Not at all	Poor sales No response
Attracting and retaining quality employees	Attracting and retaining quality employees A lot	Attracting and retaining quality employees Some	Attracting and retaining quality employees Not at all	Attracting and retaining quality employees No response
Unwillingness of staff to return to workplace (as opposed to work from home/hybrid)	Unwillingness of staff to return to workplace (as opposed to work from home/hybrid) A lot	Unwillingness of staff to return to workplace (as opposed to work from home/hybrid) Some	Unwillingness of staff to return to workplace (as opposed to work from home/hybrid) Not at all	Unwillingness of staff to return to workplace (as opposed to work from home/hybrid) No response
Need for business planning and strategy (scaling operations for growth, managing costs)	Need for business planning and strategy (scaling operations for growth, managing costs) A lot	Need for business planning and strategy (scaling operations for growth, managing costs) Some	Need for business planning and strategy (scaling operations for growth, managing costs) Not at all	Need for business planning and strategy (scaling operations for growth, managing costs) No response
Need for marketing/advertising/sales to grow customer base	Need for marketing/advertising/sales to grow customer base A lot	Need for marketing/advertising/sales to grow customer base Some	Need for marketing/advertising/sales to grow customer base Not at all	Need for marketing/advertising/sales to grow customer base No response
Operational inefficiencies	Operational inefficiencies A lot	Operational inefficiencies Some	Operational inefficiencies Not at all	Operational inefficiencies No response
POSITIVE INFLUENCES Training/developing leadership and skills	POSITIVE INFLUENCES Training/developing leadership and skills A lot	POSITIVE INFLUENCES Training/developing leadership and skills Some	POSITIVE INFLUENCES Training/developing leadership and skills Not at all	POSITIVE INFLUENCES Training/developing leadership and skills No response
Availability of affordable housing	Availability of affordable housing A lot	Availability of affordable housing Some	Availability of affordable housing Not at all	Availability of affordable housing No response
Access to affordable housing	Access to affordable housing A lot	Access to affordable housing Some	Access to affordable housing Not at all	Access to affordable housing No response
Access to affordable health insurance	Access to affordable health insurance A lot	Access to affordable health insurance Some	Access to affordable health insurance Not at all	Access to affordable health insurance No response
Access to affordable mental health insurance	Access to affordable mental health insurance A lot	Access to affordable mental health insurance Some	Access to affordable mental health insurance Not at all	Access to affordable mental health insurance No response
Expanded/enhanced public transportation options	Expanded/enhanced public transportation options A lot	Expanded/enhanced public transportation options Some	Expanded/enhanced public transportation options Not at all	Expanded/enhanced public transportation options No response
Access to affordable childcare	Access to affordable childcare A lot	Access to affordable childcare Some	Access to affordable childcare Not at all	Access to affordable childcare No response

Question Title

1. INTRODUCTIONIn what sector(s) do you work? (check all that apply)

Question Title

2. What is your position with the company or organization?

Question Title

3. Please tell us about your history, location, and employees in the area:How many years have you been employed by or owned the entity?

Question Title

4. Approximately how many years has this entity been located in the Walnut Creek region?

Question Title

5. How many full-time equivalent staff do you have in this region? (Include yourself)

Question Title

6. In what city is your business/organization - office/work setting located?

Question Title

7. Do you have remote staff?

Question Title

8. If yes, number of days working remote?

Question Title

9. Is your business located in Downtown Walnut Creek or adjacent?

Question Title

10. CURRENT BUSINESS ISSUES AND PLANSWhich of these actions is your company or organization considering over the next 1-2 years? (select all that apply)

Question Title

11. How much do these external factors negatively affect your business or organization?

Question Title

12. What do you regard as the single greatest threat/challenge facing your business or organization?

Question Title

13. How much do these internal factors affect your performance, positively or negitively?

Question Title

14. Where do you generally turn to help, understand, and address the challenges your business or organization are facing?

Question Title

15. WHAT HELP DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED?How beneficial would the following professional development offerings be in supporting the success of your business or organization?

Question Title

16. What other professional development offerings would be of interest to you?

Question Title

17. Which of these topics/activities would be of interest to you? (check all that apply)

Question Title

18. If you would like to be entered in a drawing for $500, please provide your name and email below.Contact Information (Optional)

Question Title

19. Do you want to opt out of receiving further communication?

1. INTRODUCTION
In what sector(s) do you work? (check all that apply)

3. Please tell us about your history, location, and employees in the area:
How many years have you been employed by or owned the entity?

10. CURRENT BUSINESS ISSUES AND PLANS
Which of these actions is your company or organization considering over the next 1-2 years? (select all that apply)

15. WHAT HELP DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED?
How beneficial would the following professional development offerings be in supporting the success of your business or organization?

18. If you would like to be entered in a drawing for $500, please provide your name and email below.
Contact Information (Optional)