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Business Walk Marana, Arizona W.A.C.E. Business Outreach Program

Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

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Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program Marana Chamber of Commerce launched a Business Walk Project, conducting face-to-face surveys with local businesses. The objective of the project was to identify the needs of the business community. Allowing the Chamber of Commerce, Town of Marana, and Businesses to work together to address any issues or needs of businesses. The Business Walk Project was initiated to create a strategic program to address business retention in the community.

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Page 1: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

Business WalkMarana, Arizona

W.A.C.E. Business Outreach Program

Page 2: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

Welcome to Marana!

Marana Chamber Business Walk

Population – 36,756 Land area 121.47 Square Miles 956 Brick & Mortar Businesses Over 500 Home-based Businesses 2/3 of Town Revenue is from Sales Tax Top Employment Industry

Retail Trade Restaurant & Accommodation Manufacturing Administrative & Support Services Health Care

Accenture Match Play Championship

Quick Facts:

Page 3: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

“[…]identify resources and strategies that support the retention of existing businesses” – Town of Marana 2012 Strategic Plan: Commerce Center Focus Area

Purpose of Project

Ultimate Goal: Business Retention

Using project findings in two ways:

Identify first-hand current needs of the business community.

Facilitate a dialogue between the Town, Chamber of Commerce, and local businesses.

Page 4: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

Costs & Resources Implementing Project

Marana Chamber Business Walk

#1 Resource: Committee Members & Staff TIME!!

Monthly meetings for a year to plan and implement the walks:

• Case Study: Sacramento Metro Chamber • Created a Business Plan• Develop/Implemented an IT Database• Planned 3 Business Walks • Put Packets Together for Each Business

Surveyed • Recruited 40 Key Individuals from the

Chamber and the Town• Created a Summary After Each Walk and a

Comparison Report at the End of the Project• Staff Time Approximately 160 Hours

Page 5: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

Costs & Resources Implementing Project

Marana Chamber Business Walk

• Printing and Postage Approximately $1250

• Feed Your Volunteers!

• Supplies – folders for the businesses

Approximately $450

Page 6: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

Design of ProjectHow is business?

What do you like about doing business in the area?

What should be done to improve business?

Results

Page 7: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

Results

Question 1: Simply asked “How’s business ?” to get an understanding of how businesses were doing.

Page 8: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

Results

Question 2:Question two was designed to identify key attributes that business owners liked regarding doing business in the Marana area.

Top Themes:

Walk I Walk II Walk III Location 157 Location 64 Location 41 Customers 78 Safety Security 42 Community 29 Safety/Security 63 Community 37 Customers 28 Community 55 Customers 35 Safety Security 15 Total: 353 178 113

Page 9: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

Results

Question 3:

Question three asked participants to identify areas to improve business. The term ‘no comment’ was selected when participants respondedthat no changes were to be made.

Top Themes:

Walk I Walk II Walk III

No Comment 62 No Comment 20 No Comment 16 Other 61 Signage 18 Other 14 Signage 50 Marketing 12 Signage 11 Economy 47 Economy 9 Vacant Store Fronts 10 Marketing 43 Road Improvements 9 Economy 8 Total: 263 68 59

Page 10: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

Impacts on the Chamber

Marana Chamber Business Walk

"The Marana Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business that works to build economic growth and quality of life in our community."

• Strengthening partnership with the Town & Community

• Creating Programs for the Home-based Business Community

• Becoming a source of valuable information

• Addressing business retention holistically

Page 11: Marana Chamber Western Association Chamber Executives Business Outreach Program

Marana Chamber Business Walk

Happy to help!

E d S t o l m a k e r @ M a r a n a C h a m b e r. c o m

D i r e c t L i n e : 5 2 0 . 7 8 9 . 7 5 3 1 w w w. M a r a n a C h a m b e r. c o m