terms of availability and cost), the overall cost of doing business, and real estate and property taxes. However, larger companies found that the cost of doing business was an advantage, rather than a disadvantage. Critical Advantage
Moderate Advantage
No Effect
Moderate Disadvantage
Critical Disadvantage
94
93
35
2
1
42%
41%
16%
1%
0%
Index of Concurrence
~
: Crime/security (perceptions, reality) .. _ Location (access to customers, transportation, suppliers) f-------
Activities of chamber of commerce
f--
~ Infrastructure (transportation telecom, utilities)
f------
2
91
38
8
40%
17%
4%
39
58
114
6
8
3%
4%
17%
Responsiveness of town ': government
.
87 38%
26%
51%
1%
26
58
114
17
8
12%
26%
51%
8%
4%
21
62
97
33
11
9%
28%
43%
15%
5%
12
63
106
36
6
5%
28%
48%
16%
3%
098 0.95 0.87 0.77 0.65
--'~-'
Workforce (availability, cost, diversity, skills) Regulations (zoning, permitting)
1------
-Commercial real estate (availability, cost)
f----------
•..
Overall cost of doing business
t T"e, (rea
estate, property)
15
63
85
45
15
7%
28%
38%
20%
7%
12
46
75
71
22
5%
20%
33%
31%
10%
5
47
86
73
15
2%
21%
38%
32%
7%
L..-_.
7
42
74
79
22
3%
19%
33%
35%
10%
0.64 057 0.38 037 0.33
12. Are there any other competitive advantages or disadvantages for Cheshire? Nineteen responses reported that location, in terms of access to highways, was an advantage. The other major theme was the quality of life, with 11 responses. Five respondents noted the quality of the education system, and three noted the helpfulness of government.
When given the option to write in disadvantages 11 respondents noted aspects about the balance of industries in the town, preferring to have additional retail and different zoning requlations in certain parts of town. The other major themes, each with nine responses, concerned traffic and costs. Most of the costs pertained to taxes but one noted the cost of electricity and one noted that the costs of rents are making it difficult for
....... .J
." ....)
employees to live in Cheshire.
Workforce
)
13. What percent of your employees live in the following areas?
12 Final Draft 8/21/07
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