St. Tammany Corporation | Economic Development Strategic Plan | Public Input Survey 2024

Introduction

St. Tammany Corporation, the economic development organization of St. Tammany Parish, has launched an online survey to capture community feedback regarding the region’s future economic development efforts for St. Tammany Parish and the Northshore region. The survey is part of the development of an updated economic development strategy.

For the community and region’s efforts to be successful, it is important to hear from members of the community. The survey gives you the opportunity to provide feedback on how you feel about the role of economic development, what type of growth and industry you think is best suited for the region and how you feel about the quality of life that you currently enjoy.

The short survey below should only take five minutes, and it will close on Friday, October 25. Please share the survey with friends and family in the region. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Question Title

* 1. From an economic development standpoint, where would you like to see the St. Tammany Parish/the Northshore region in five years? Check the top three.

Low unemployment (everyone who wants a job has a job)

Positive population growth

Home to diverse industries

Incremental increase of per capita income over time

Supportive of start-ups and entrepreneurs

A region with vibrant downtowns and neighborhoods that appeal to young business leaders and families

A region that offers high-achieving educational options from Pre-K through the college level (including community and technical education)

Other (please specify)

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* 2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement about our parish/regional economy? (Agree, Neutral, Disagree)

	Agree	Neutral	Disagree
All residents have equal access to economic opportunity	All residents have equal access to economic opportunity Agree	All residents have equal access to economic opportunity Neutral	All residents have equal access to economic opportunity Disagree
Wages and salaries make it possible to maintain my standard of living	Wages and salaries make it possible to maintain my standard of living Agree	Wages and salaries make it possible to maintain my standard of living Neutral	Wages and salaries make it possible to maintain my standard of living Disagree
Education and job training is available to residents who want or need it	Education and job training is available to residents who want or need it Agree	Education and job training is available to residents who want or need it Neutral	Education and job training is available to residents who want or need it Disagree
Businesses are growing	Businesses are growing Agree	Businesses are growing Neutral	Businesses are growing Disagree
Entrepreneurs can start and succeed	Entrepreneurs can start and succeed Agree	Entrepreneurs can start and succeed Neutral	Entrepreneurs can start and succeed Disagree
The region attracts businesses or is seen as a business destination	The region attracts businesses or is seen as a business destination Agree	The region attracts businesses or is seen as a business destination Neutral	The region attracts businesses or is seen as a business destination Disagree
The region attracts visitors or is seen as a visitor destination	The region attracts visitors or is seen as a visitor destination Agree	The region attracts visitors or is seen as a visitor destination Neutral	The region attracts visitors or is seen as a visitor destination Disagree
Local government and business cooperate on community and economic development initiatives	Local government and business cooperate on community and economic development initiatives Agree	Local government and business cooperate on community and economic development initiatives Neutral	Local government and business cooperate on community and economic development initiatives Disagree
The overall mix of employers (manufacturing, professional, retail business, etc.) is adequate	The overall mix of employers (manufacturing, professional, retail business, etc.) is adequate Agree	The overall mix of employers (manufacturing, professional, retail business, etc.) is adequate Neutral	The overall mix of employers (manufacturing, professional, retail business, etc.) is adequate Disagree

Question Title

* 3. What do you see as the community’s greatest strengths and biggest weaknesses?
Rank the following on a scale of 1 = Weakness; 2 = Not a strength; 3 = Strength; 4 = Substantial Strength

	1 = Weakness	2 = Not a Strength	3 = Strength	4 = Substantial Strength
Affordability	Affordability 1 = Weakness	Affordability 2 = Not a Strength	Affordability 3 = Strength	Affordability 4 = Substantial Strength
Ease of doing business locally/government regulatory environment	Ease of doing business locally/government regulatory environment 1 = Weakness	Ease of doing business locally/government regulatory environment 2 = Not a Strength	Ease of doing business locally/government regulatory environment 3 = Strength	Ease of doing business locally/government regulatory environment 4 = Substantial Strength
Available sites/buildings for new industry or expansions	Available sites/buildings for new industry or expansions 1 = Weakness	Available sites/buildings for new industry or expansions 2 = Not a Strength	Available sites/buildings for new industry or expansions 3 = Strength	Available sites/buildings for new industry or expansions 4 = Substantial Strength
Workforce skills and availability	Workforce skills and availability 1 = Weakness	Workforce skills and availability 2 = Not a Strength	Workforce skills and availability 3 = Strength	Workforce skills and availability 4 = Substantial Strength
Workforce costs	Workforce costs 1 = Weakness	Workforce costs 2 = Not a Strength	Workforce costs 3 = Strength	Workforce costs 4 = Substantial Strength
Access and affordability of high-speed internet for home and business	Access and affordability of high-speed internet for home and business 1 = Weakness	Access and affordability of high-speed internet for home and business 2 = Not a Strength	Access and affordability of high-speed internet for home and business 3 = Strength	Access and affordability of high-speed internet for home and business 4 = Substantial Strength
Quality of life amenities	Quality of life amenities 1 = Weakness	Quality of life amenities 2 = Not a Strength	Quality of life amenities 3 = Strength	Quality of life amenities 4 = Substantial Strength
State tax environment	State tax environment 1 = Weakness	State tax environment 2 = Not a Strength	State tax environment 3 = Strength	State tax environment 4 = Substantial Strength
Local tax environment	Local tax environment 1 = Weakness	Local tax environment 2 = Not a Strength	Local tax environment 3 = Strength	Local tax environment 4 = Substantial Strength
Connectivity – location, traffic and roadways	Connectivity – location, traffic and roadways 1 = Weakness	Connectivity – location, traffic and roadways 2 = Not a Strength	Connectivity – location, traffic and roadways 3 = Strength	Connectivity – location, traffic and roadways 4 = Substantial Strength
Support for existing industry growth and expansion	Support for existing industry growth and expansion 1 = Weakness	Support for existing industry growth and expansion 2 = Not a Strength	Support for existing industry growth and expansion 3 = Strength	Support for existing industry growth and expansion 4 = Substantial Strength
Technical support of entrepreneurs and small business	Technical support of entrepreneurs and small business 1 = Weakness	Technical support of entrepreneurs and small business 2 = Not a Strength	Technical support of entrepreneurs and small business 3 = Strength	Technical support of entrepreneurs and small business 4 = Substantial Strength
Education (public and private)	Education (public and private) 1 = Weakness	Education (public and private) 2 = Not a Strength	Education (public and private) 3 = Strength	Education (public and private) 4 = Substantial Strength
Opportunities for higher education including technical training	Opportunities for higher education including technical training 1 = Weakness	Opportunities for higher education including technical training 2 = Not a Strength	Opportunities for higher education including technical training 3 = Strength	Opportunities for higher education including technical training 4 = Substantial Strength
Crime and personal safety	Crime and personal safety 1 = Weakness	Crime and personal safety 2 = Not a Strength	Crime and personal safety 3 = Strength	Crime and personal safety 4 = Substantial Strength
Housing options (rental and home ownership)	Housing options (rental and home ownership) 1 = Weakness	Housing options (rental and home ownership) 2 = Not a Strength	Housing options (rental and home ownership) 3 = Strength	Housing options (rental and home ownership) 4 = Substantial Strength
Organized business leadership	Organized business leadership 1 = Weakness	Organized business leadership 2 = Not a Strength	Organized business leadership 3 = Strength	Organized business leadership 4 = Substantial Strength
A shared vision of where the region is going	A shared vision of where the region is going 1 = Weakness	A shared vision of where the region is going 2 = Not a Strength	A shared vision of where the region is going 3 = Strength	A shared vision of where the region is going 4 = Substantial Strength

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. When it comes to utilities, infrastructure, communications and transportation, how would you rate the following?

	Meets our needs	Improvements are Necessary	Serious Problems Exist	No Opinion
Utilities	Utilities Meets our needs	Utilities Improvements are Necessary	Utilities Serious Problems Exist	Utilities No Opinion
Cell phone service	Cell phone service Meets our needs	Cell phone service Improvements are Necessary	Cell phone service Serious Problems Exist	Cell phone service No Opinion
Internet/broadband services	Internet/broadband services Meets our needs	Internet/broadband services Improvements are Necessary	Internet/broadband services Serious Problems Exist	Internet/broadband services No Opinion
Parish/city road and streets	Parish/city road and streets Meets our needs	Parish/city road and streets Improvements are Necessary	Parish/city road and streets Serious Problems Exist	Parish/city road and streets No Opinion
Interstates and state highways	Interstates and state highways Meets our needs	Interstates and state highways Improvements are Necessary	Interstates and state highways Serious Problems Exist	Interstates and state highways No Opinion
Drainage and flood control measures	Drainage and flood control measures Meets our needs	Drainage and flood control measures Improvements are Necessary	Drainage and flood control measures Serious Problems Exist	Drainage and flood control measures No Opinion

Question Title

* 5. When it comes to quality of place amenities and facilities, how would you rate the following?

	Meets our needs	Improvements are Necessary	Serious Problems Exist	No Opinion
Park/recreation/trail offerings	Park/recreation/trail offerings Meets our needs	Park/recreation/trail offerings Improvements are Necessary	Park/recreation/trail offerings Serious Problems Exist	Park/recreation/trail offerings No Opinion
Retail and shopping services	Retail and shopping services Meets our needs	Retail and shopping services Improvements are Necessary	Retail and shopping services Serious Problems Exist	Retail and shopping services No Opinion
Entertainment, nightlife, and dining	Entertainment, nightlife, and dining Meets our needs	Entertainment, nightlife, and dining Improvements are Necessary	Entertainment, nightlife, and dining Serious Problems Exist	Entertainment, nightlife, and dining No Opinion
Daycare options	Daycare options Meets our needs	Daycare options Improvements are Necessary	Daycare options Serious Problems Exist	Daycare options No Opinion
Healthcare services	Healthcare services Meets our needs	Healthcare services Improvements are Necessary	Healthcare services Serious Problems Exist	Healthcare services No Opinion
Arts/cultural programs/facilities	Arts/cultural programs/facilities Meets our needs	Arts/cultural programs/facilities Improvements are Necessary	Arts/cultural programs/facilities Serious Problems Exist	Arts/cultural programs/facilities No Opinion
Overall community appearance	Overall community appearance Meets our needs	Overall community appearance Improvements are Necessary	Overall community appearance Serious Problems Exist	Overall community appearance No Opinion
Citizen involvement	Citizen involvement Meets our needs	Citizen involvement Improvements are Necessary	Citizen involvement Serious Problems Exist	Citizen involvement No Opinion

Question Title

* 6. When it comes to educational opportunities and choices, how would you rate the following?

	Meets our needs	Improvements are Necessary	Serious Problems Exist	No Opinion
Pre-school opportunities/choices	Pre-school opportunities/choices Meets our needs	Pre-school opportunities/choices Improvements are Necessary	Pre-school opportunities/choices Serious Problems Exist	Pre-school opportunities/choices No Opinion
Elementary school opportunities/choices	Elementary school opportunities/choices Meets our needs	Elementary school opportunities/choices Improvements are Necessary	Elementary school opportunities/choices Serious Problems Exist	Elementary school opportunities/choices No Opinion
Secondary school opportunities/choices	Secondary school opportunities/choices Meets our needs	Secondary school opportunities/choices Improvements are Necessary	Secondary school opportunities/choices Serious Problems Exist	Secondary school opportunities/choices No Opinion
Post-secondary school opportunities/choices	Post-secondary school opportunities/choices Meets our needs	Post-secondary school opportunities/choices Improvements are Necessary	Post-secondary school opportunities/choices Serious Problems Exist	Post-secondary school opportunities/choices No Opinion
Other workforce training opportunities/choices	Other workforce training opportunities/choices Meets our needs	Other workforce training opportunities/choices Improvements are Necessary	Other workforce training opportunities/choices Serious Problems Exist	Other workforce training opportunities/choices No Opinion

Question Title

* 7. When it comes to housing, how would you rate the following?

	Meets our needs	Improvements are Necessary	Serious Problems Exist	No Opinion
Overall condition of housing stock	Overall condition of housing stock Meets our needs	Overall condition of housing stock Improvements are Necessary	Overall condition of housing stock Serious Problems Exist	Overall condition of housing stock No Opinion
Overall affordability of housing	Overall affordability of housing Meets our needs	Overall affordability of housing Improvements are Necessary	Overall affordability of housing Serious Problems Exist	Overall affordability of housing No Opinion
Availability of single-family homes	Availability of single-family homes Meets our needs	Availability of single-family homes Improvements are Necessary	Availability of single-family homes Serious Problems Exist	Availability of single-family homes No Opinion
Availability of apartment units	Availability of apartment units Meets our needs	Availability of apartment units Improvements are Necessary	Availability of apartment units Serious Problems Exist	Availability of apartment units No Opinion
Affordability of apartment units	Affordability of apartment units Meets our needs	Affordability of apartment units Improvements are Necessary	Affordability of apartment units Serious Problems Exist	Affordability of apartment units No Opinion
Number of buildable lots	Number of buildable lots Meets our needs	Number of buildable lots Improvements are Necessary	Number of buildable lots Serious Problems Exist	Number of buildable lots No Opinion
Contractor/builder availability	Contractor/builder availability Meets our needs	Contractor/builder availability Improvements are Necessary	Contractor/builder availability Serious Problems Exist	Contractor/builder availability No Opinion
Nursing/assisted living home units	Nursing/assisted living home units Meets our needs	Nursing/assisted living home units Improvements are Necessary	Nursing/assisted living home units Serious Problems Exist	Nursing/assisted living home units No Opinion

Question Title

* 8. Describe the regulatory landscape and ease of doing business with the various government partners in our landscape.
Rank the following on the scale: 1 = Seamless Process; 2 = Average Process; 3 = Confusing Process; 4 = Challenging Process

	Seamless Process	Average Process	Confusing Process	Challenging Process	No Opinion
City/Municipal Government	City/Municipal Government Seamless Process	City/Municipal Government Average Process	City/Municipal Government Confusing Process	City/Municipal Government Challenging Process	City/Municipal Government No Opinion
Parish Government	Parish Government Seamless Process	Parish Government Average Process	Parish Government Confusing Process	Parish Government Challenging Process	Parish Government No Opinion
State Government	State Government Seamless Process	State Government Average Process	State Government Confusing Process	State Government Challenging Process	State Government No Opinion

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 9. What type of businesses and industry growth do you want to see in the St. Tammany Parish and the Northshore region? Please select at least one option.

Advanced manufacturing/light industry (distribution/warehousing operations, advance manufacturing, etc.)

Service providers (medical, financial, higher education, etc.)

Home-grown/local entrepreneurial businesses

Business services (accounting, financial services)

Agriculture or timber-related businesses

Technology services (call centers, software development, IT)

Retail

Tourism, hospitality, and recreation

None, I prefer to keep the existing level of business and industry

Other (please specify)

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* 10. What do you believe are the biggest challenges for St. Tammany Parish? Please list no more than three.

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* 11. What do you believe are the biggest strengths of St. Tammany Parish? Please list no more than three.

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* 12. What should be St Tammany Parish’s and the Northshore region’s top priorities for economic development? What would you like the region to achieve? Please select up to three strategies.

Create a unified vision and strategy for regional growth

Diversify the economic base and create new higher-paying jobs

Encourage the growth of existing businesses and industries

Encourage downtown revitalization

Create a strong entrepreneurial climate

Increase job skills of local labor force

Improve the quality of life and regional amenities such as livability and recreation

Help improve local schools

Improve availability of a range of housing options

Improve government cooperation on a regional level

Attract and retain young professionals and families

Improve access and affordability of high-speed internet for home and business

Improve infrastructure (roads, drainage, utilities)

Other (please specify)

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* 13. What is your age?

18-29

30-44

45-59

60+

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* 14. Please note the sector in which you are currently employed. Mark only one response.

Government employee (municipal, county, state, federal)

Private business owner

Private business employee

Hospitality

Education

Non-profit/community organization employee

Retired

Not currently employed

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 15. How long have you lived in the St. Tammany Parish or the Northshore region?

Less than 5 years

5 - 10 years

10 - 20 years

More than 20 years

Entire life

St. Tammany Corporation | Economic Development Strategic Plan | Public Input Survey 2024

Introduction

Question Title

* 1. From an economic development standpoint, where would you like to see the St. Tammany Parish/the Northshore region in five years? Check the top three.

Question Title

* 2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement about our parish/regional economy? (Agree, Neutral, Disagree)

Question Title

* 3. What do you see as the community’s greatest strengths and biggest weaknesses? Rank the following on a scale of 1 = Weakness; 2 = Not a strength; 3 = Strength; 4 = Substantial Strength

Question Title

* 4. When it comes to utilities, infrastructure, communications and transportation, how would you rate the following?

Question Title

* 5. When it comes to quality of place amenities and facilities, how would you rate the following?

Question Title

* 6. When it comes to educational opportunities and choices, how would you rate the following?

Question Title

* 7. When it comes to housing, how would you rate the following?

Question Title

* 8. Describe the regulatory landscape and ease of doing business with the various government partners in our landscape.Rank the following on the scale: 1 = Seamless Process; 2 = Average Process; 3 = Confusing Process; 4 = Challenging Process

Question Title

* 9. What type of businesses and industry growth do you want to see in the St. Tammany Parish and the Northshore region? Please select at least one option.

Question Title

* 10. What do you believe are the biggest challenges for St. Tammany Parish? Please list no more than three.

Question Title

* 11. What do you believe are the biggest strengths of St. Tammany Parish? Please list no more than three.

Question Title

* 12. What should be St Tammany Parish’s and the Northshore region’s top priorities for economic development? What would you like the region to achieve? Please select up to three strategies.

Question Title

* 13. What is your age?

Question Title

* 14. Please note the sector in which you are currently employed. Mark only one response.

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* 15. How long have you lived in the St. Tammany Parish or the Northshore region?

* 3. What do you see as the community’s greatest strengths and biggest weaknesses?
Rank the following on a scale of 1 = Weakness; 2 = Not a strength; 3 = Strength; 4 = Substantial Strength

* 8. Describe the regulatory landscape and ease of doing business with the various government partners in our landscape.
Rank the following on the scale: 1 = Seamless Process; 2 = Average Process; 3 = Confusing Process; 4 = Challenging Process