The Hopewell Downtown Partnership has requested the Center for Urban and Regional Analysis (CURA) at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) to conduct research and analyze the potential uses of a 14,000 sq. ft. city owned building. As a part of the research, CURA will administer the following online survey. 

The upcoming survey will ask you to provide information regarding the products and services that your business produces.  Additionally, the survey will ask your opinion on the likelihood of you renting space at a co-working, makerspace, and/or commercial kitchen facility.  Your responses will assist in determining the best use of this facility for entrepreneurs in Hopewell, Virginia.

Survey results will be kept strictly confidential. Responses will be analyzed and reported only in the aggregate (totals). No individuals or companies will be identified in the published results.
At the end of this survey, you can choose to provide your business name and email address. This response will be stored separately, and the information will be provided to the Hopewell Downtown Partnership that will use it only for commercial revitalization purposes. All your other responses will be kept confidential and won’t be associated to your email or your business name.

For your reference, the following terms are used throughout the survey to describe potential uses of the 14,000 sq. ft. city owned building:

Co-working space: Provides rented office space, conference rooms, and other business services to small businesses and entrepreneurs.  This co-working environment allows for collaboration and networking among entrepreneurs with related interests and business goals.

Makerspace: A facility for makers to rent space and equipment to create and build their products. Makerspace also allows for a shared-community of creators to collaborate on projects.

Commercial kitchen: A rentable kitchen and space for food related entrepreneurs to use. This facility may also include other amenities such as business services and office space to assist the entrepreneurs as they continue to build their business.

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* 1. Artisans, makers, and food related businesses in Hopewell, Virginia would benefit from having a local co-working space. (Scale of 1 to 5. The highest rating being 5 stars)

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* 2. Which of the following best describes your business?

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* 3. Did you receive any formal training/education for this? (Please select the highest form of education you have received.)

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* 4. Please describe your products or services.

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* 5. Where do you currently make your products?

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* 6. What types of equipment do you currently use to make your product?

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* 7. What are the most important inputs for your product/service and where do you buy them (i.e. name of locality)?

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* 8. Where do you get most of your inputs?

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* 9. Are your ingredients or supplies locally sourced?

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* 10. How do you advertise your products/services? (Please check all that apply)

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* 11. Where do you sell your products or services? (Please check all that apply.)

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* 12. How long have you been in business?

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* 13. How many do you employ?

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* 14. What are the major challenges to the viability of your business? (Please select all that apply.)

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* 15. How likely would you rent a co-working space, makerspace, and/or commercial kitchen? (Scale of 1 to 5. The highest rating being 5 stars).

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* 16. How many hours per month would you use a co-working space, makerspace, and/or commercial kitchen?

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* 17. How much would you pay hourly to use a commercial kitchen (Based on usage per month of a 2,000 sq. ft kitchen)?

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* 18. How much would you pay monthly to use office space in a co-working facility (Based on usage of a 200 sq. ft office space)?

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* 19. How much in additional yearly membership fees would you pay to use a co-working space, makerspace, and commercial kitchen facility (i.e. equipment, storage, utilities, other services)?

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* 20. Please list all equipment needed for your business in the co-working space, makerspace, and/or commercial kitchen.

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* 21. What other services would assist you in meeting your business goals? (Please select all that apply.)

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* 22. Would you consider having your business in downtown Hopewell if there was an accommodating space for your business?

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* 23. Five years from now, what do you want your business to be?

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* 24. If you would like to be contacted by the Hopewell Downtown Partnership with more information pertaining to the proposed MakerSpace, please provide your business name and email address. 

If you choose to provide your business name and email address, this is the only response which will be provided to the Hopewell Downtown Partnership. Your other responses will remain strictly confidential.

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