Registration for this event is closed.
As your advocate and source of local business information the Santa Cruz Area Chamber has created a county-wide survey of business conditions. We will use your answers to advocate for shared interests. And, we will consolidate these answers to inform you about the conditions and perceptions of our business community.
The Business Conditions 2012 Survey was designed to help local businesses compare their expectations and strategies and develop their individual tactics. The survey is managed by the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce and co-sponsored by the Santa Cruz County Business Council, the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, the Santa Cruz Downtown Association, the San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce, the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce, and the Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce. It will help the Chamber and other business support organizations focus their efforts on the areas their constituents are emphasizing.
The survey looks at 2011 business performance, expectations for the next 12 months, and the issues that are important to you as a business owner, manager, or principal.
The consolidated responses will describe:
• Santa Cruz County business leaders’ expectations for the next 18 months • How we think our business spending is changing • The strategies our businesses are implementing to survive and thrive
The 2012 Business Experience and Expectations Survey has more than 70 respondents to date with some interesting initial results:• On the various possible tax proposals there is little agreement. Governor Brown’s proposal for an increase in the state sales tax and income taxes on high-income earners was favored by more than 60% of the respondents. The local measure with the most positive response was a $10 per vehicle registration fee for transportation. Many of the others found strong feelings both in favor and in opposition.• More than 70% of businesses consider improvement of K-12 education important and about 50% would make it a priority and there is broad agreement on the best means of doing so, except regarding Charter Schools. There is a nearly even split between those who believe reallocating public school resources to charter schools would reduce or increase the overall quality of K-12 education.• There continues to be very strong support for additional reductions in public pension benefits, for action on water issues, and improvement in local internet infrastructure.• Improved economic conditions are reflected in some particularly interesting changes in business strategies over the past couple of years especially related to capital investment and marketing.Please make your voice heard and contribute to this valuable information base by taking the 20-minute survey today.We’ll analyze the responses and present them at the membership luncheon on April 19. We’ll also invite four industry-group leaders to give brief presentations of their vision for the next 18 months at the luncheon. Our speakers at the luncheon will be: • Ken Kannappan, Director, President & Chief Executive Officer of Plantronics • Marq Lipton, Marketing Director of the Seaside Company • Jess Brown, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau • Brian King, President of Cabrillo College
To be assured of a seat at this popular event, please make your reservation by April 9, 2012.SPECIAL: Members of any of the sponsoring organizations (Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce, Santa Cruz County Business Council, Santa Cruz County Farm Bureau, Santa Cruz Downtown Association, San Lorenzo Valley Chamber of Commerce, Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Pajaro Valley Chamber of Commerce) pay the discounted member price!
Members: $37.50Non-members $50Member Table of 8: $285
Our quarterly member meetings in April, July, and October feature experts that keep members on top of current business trends in locally, regionally, and nationally. Chamber member breakfast and luncheon meetings are an opportunity to come together for conversation about community, economics, and key local issues.
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