Business Survey 2022

Read our 2022 Business  Survey Report

In late July 2022, EDC conducted a survey to gather attitudes and opinions from businesses throughout the town. The survey was a mailing to 467 businesses out of a list of 705 businesses provided by Town Assessor, Chris Kelsey.

FOLLOW UP SURVEY
The survey was a follow up to a similar survey conducted by EDC in 2017. The rationale for a follow up was to use 2017 as a baseline and determine whether opinions changed in five years, with the objective of reporting trends and economic conditions back to the municipality as required by Connecticut General Statutes § 7-136.

A MORE EXPANSIVE SURVEY
The 2022 survey was sent to a total of 467 businesses compared to only 300 businesses in 2017.

SURVEY TECHNIQUE
Business owners were asked initially to rate the importance of fifteen factors in doing business in Middlebury, ranging from the rural nature and appearance of the town to tax rates, safety, utilities and services, and the school system. The remainder of the survey consisted of open-ended questions, asking owners to tell the EDC what should be done to promote a better business climate, and about difficulties in starting the business and keeping it profitable. A cover letter promised that responses would be read in full by members of the EDC and names would be kept confidential.

The survey drew 59 responses from a cross section of businesses, for an overall response yield of about 12%.

Recommendations to the Middlebury Board of Selectmen and Board of Finance

Read our presentation slides