Chester County releases business survey results
Findings of the 2nd annual study will be used to track trends in the future
Businesses in Chester County support open space initiatives but are less certain they can find the workers they need than they were last year.
Those are two findings of the second annual “Take the Pulse” business survey conducted by the Chester County Economic Development Council and presented to county commissioners at their meeting Tuesday morning.
“The big picture is this is an annual survey so we’ll be able to track to results year after year and be able to spot the trends,” said Mike Grigalonis, chief operating officer and executive vice president of the development council.
Grigalonis, along with MaryFrances McGarrity, senior vice president of business development services at the development council, presented the findings of the survey. It was conducted online for eight weeks during March and April on the websites of the development council, the county and the chambers of commerce throughout the county. The survey drew 337 responses, McGarrity said.
Highlights of the findings include:
• “Quality of Place” continues to play a critical role in Chester County’s economic success, with 27 percent of respondents citing it as the primary reason they are located in Chester County (up from 16 percent the prior year).
• Business owners in 2017 are more optimistic for growth in Chester County (53 percent “improving”) compared to one year ago (46 percent “improving”).
• Three-quarters of respondents are optimistic for growth in their own companies.
Compared to 2016 findings, respondents in 2017 have a significantly more positive view of several characteristics of Chester County, including:
• Natural environment/open
space (90 percent net positive ratings in 2017, up from 76 percent in 2016).
• Location/access to markets (86 percent from 78 percent).
• Presence of related business clusters (77 percent from 58 percent).
Areas where impressions of Chester County declined compared to 2016 include:
• Availability of workforce (63 percent net positive ratings in 2017, down from 72 percent in 2016).
• Infrastructure (down to 39 percent from 58 percent).
• Roads/highways (37 percent from 62 percent).
• Permitting process/ municipal approval process (19 percent from 26 percent).
McGarrity said she was struck by the age of the companies that responded: 53 percent operated in Chester County 20 years or more, while 16 percent are four years old or younger.
“Those are good trends, to have new businesses coming in and to have long-time businesses founded and nurtured to stay here,” McGarrity said.
Michelle Kichline, Chester County Commissioners’ chairwoman and Co-Chair of VISTA 2025, said the survey is a key component in the VISTA 2025, a public-private partnership between the county and the Chester County Economic Development Council focused on creating and implementing a 10-year economic development strategy for the county.
“The results of this second Take the Pulse survey give us valuable guidance on where to focus our energy as we work to improve the economic health of Chester County,” Kichline said.
Kathi Cozzone, vice chairwoman of the board, suggested future surveys ask questions that could elicit responses from the businesses to find out if they are aware of things like the various workforce programs available in the county. The economic development officials agreed it was a good idea to included that kind of questioning in future surveys.