Questionnaire for Entrepreneurs

- I selected I don't have an opinion because I felt I don't know enough about our plans economic development plans to have an educated opinion. I feel we need to do a better job of getting that information out to the average person.

- I don't feel we are aggressively pursuing the outside companies needed to inject economic energy in this region. We are woefully behind the rest of NH in terms of leadership. We are not getting it from the Chamber, the Council or private citizens. We talk constantly. I am concerned that the new City Manager has no understanding of the severity of what we are facing. I am concerned that we just handed off to "Med" leadership of this initiative when it is one of a multitude of tasks he is being asked to manage. He or someone should be doing this full time. This is not a part time issue! It requires full time focus and leadership. It is not happening in this region. I am saddened by the lack of leadership coming out of the Mayor's office. He is the king of more and more meetings. We need to put a dynamic, experienced individual in charge of this priority.

- These responses are mainly in reference to Peterborough and surrounding towns.

- The Hannah Grimes Center is an amazing resource for entrepreneurs and initiatives like Monadnock Buy Local help to raise awareness of the important place local businesses have in our economy and in our lives.

- Most economic and civic development is hindered by a strong local attitude of "Not in my back yard."

Most people will crow about how we need something but if it remotely effects how they execute there daily routine will do every thing in there power to make sure it does not happen.

- i don't know

- Yes, we have poor technology and transportation in our region. Also need to build our local food system - byt that I don't mean build bigger local farms but help support more small farms.

- Not serious

- I biggest problem is Skilled Labor. I do not believe that is "Infrastructure. So, I am going to answer, "I don't know".

- There is a lack of funds for municipal repair and maintenance

- A little bit of a challenge in peterborough - particularly in the support of telecommunters who might otherwise find our town attractive.

- Roads are not always in the greatest shape.......

- not a serious challenge

- Not a serious challenge

- A huge challenge. We have vary lovely buildings and streets the biggest issue is proper maintenance and lack of

- i don't know

- Yes, permits in Keene a huge barrier

- Moderately serious

- it is a constant refrain over the past 20 years, that the city of Keene is impossible to work with on a timely basis. Is that true or fair? My impression is that it is getting better, that the city of Keene is listening and attempting to work with people. So, I will answer: " A little bit of a Challenge"

- NO

- A moderately serious challenge, particularly because there is not a clear, inclusive vision informing them.

- The byzantine regulatory system for hospitality -related businesses is daunting in "Live Free or Die" New Hampshire. Absolutely archaic.

- not a serious challenge - local town works with us

- i dont know

- A little bit of a challenge

- Not a serious challenge.

- the largest challenge our area faces is a lack of skilled workers. most young people with a skill that where raised in NH will leave the state because they will be paid more for the same job.

- High speed internet throughout the region - especially in small towns outside of Keene

- More internships needed, more people need to stay in Keene, more shoppers need to support local businesses.

- I am a huge fan of downtown. But let's stop putting all our energy into "improving downtown". Instead, focus on bringing in new businesses.

- High speed internet

- In outlying towns like mine, the availability of reliable internet service is severely lacking and a huge detriment to folks looking to do business of any kind. Also, the drug crisis in our area makes it virtually impossible to keep employees, especially in the hospitality industry.

- Competitive internet and telecom services. We are not in the immediate metropolitan area.

- Infrastructure is the single greatest challenge our area faces. our area has some of the slowest internet and spotty Cell service in the nation. More important than Infrastructure there in effectively no public transportation to or from our area and the surrounding communities or states.

- Hannah Grimes: Outstanding

MEDC: Not sure where they are at today. Feels like they have "cooled" to working with this area recently; looking elsewhere where maybe it is easier to succeed? This should concern all of us going forward. Their past history, which has been very positive, is not going to help us in the future if they are spending their time in other locale's. Yes, I am very concerned. Is Jack retiring? Who is in line to replace him? Is he still engaged?

- YPN, KCC, ect.

- We are working on creating a kitchen that would be open to local food producers to use for value added products, testing etc.

- Colleges: We need KSC to succeed in Keene. I am a huge fan. There recent failures saddens me. Their past two Presidents delivered nothing on behalf of the school or the city. So frustrating that Mayor Lane was banging the drum for both when it was obvious just how weak they were as leaders. And it didn't take the PF to realize it. Let's hope Treadwell is the answer.

- 350,000

- 50,000

- Private loans.

- Teds Shoe and Sport

- The Fitzwilliam Inn

- surell

- Keene

- Fitzwilliam

- troy

- Hillsboro

- KEENE

- Footwear and Apparel brick and mortar retail.

- Non Profit
50+ year presence in this region
A huge cheerleader for the City of Keene

- Bed and breakfast lodging, restaurant, pub

- Surell is a wholesaler of real and faux fur accessories.

- Technology services

- Real Estate, Construction, Property Management, Renovation, Relocation, General Contractor