APP surveys business owners
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Officials with the Aroostook Partnership for Progress (APP) announced on Sept. 22 a new effort to assist Aroostook’s businesses: the partnership has orchestrated an ongoing county-wide survey to assess the needs of northern Maine’s business community.
According to Brian Longstaff, business development specialist and senior planner at the Northern Maine Development Commission (NMDC), the survey contains about 25 multiple-choice questions with the option for business owners to write their own response to questions as well.
“We tried to make it as business-friendly as possible,” Longstaff said, adding that the survey should take participants about five minutes to complete.
A total of 363 letters were sent to the region’s larger business owners inviting them to participate in the survey; businesses receiving letters primarily employed roughly 10 individuals as the survey targeted larger companies with multiple employees as opposed to small operations with less than a handful of workers.
With questions such as “do you have difficulty recruiting new employees” and other queries asking participants for issues/obstacles facing their companies today, letters requesting survey participation spanned the region’s industry sectors to discover the roots of business-hindering factors.
“In addition to attracting new investment and stopping the out-migration of our young people, we want to ensure that all existing businesses continue to operate and flourish in the County,” said Walt Elish, former president and CEO of APP.
Elish finished his time with APP on Sept. 30 and is slated to become the new president and CEO of Northern Colorado Economic Development Corporation. During the interim period until a new president is found, officials with NMDC will be filling in at APP to maintain the program’s forward momentum.
APP along with its partners from the Loring Development Authority, Maine Public Service, NMDC, Presque Isle Industrial Council and the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation will coordinate their efforts, under the umbrella of APP; to implement a web-based county-wide business expansion survey. The purpose of the survey is to learn more about the expansion plans and needs of Aroostook County businesses. The information received will then enable the economic development team to identify ways that they can support business growth in the County, according to Elish.
“Since much of Aroostook County’s future development depends on the ability of its existing businesses to thrive and expand, it is important for us to better understand the perceptions, challenges and plans of our businesses in Aroostook County,” said Bob Clark, executive director of NMDC.
“As important as it is to attract new investment into the County, it’s equally important to ensure the valued companies already located here continue to thrive and prosper,” said APP Board Chair Kris Doody. “This initiative is an important part of our overall commitment to economic development and improving the quality of life for Aroostook County.”
Businesses who may have not been invited to participate in the survey but wish to contribute to its findings can take the survey by visiting www.APPme.org.
Additional information regarding the survey can be obtained by contacting Longstaff at 498-8736 or e-mailing blongstaff@nmdc.org; information is also available at the partnership’s home page at www.APPme.org.
