Business Survey Sees Growing Optimism in Clay County
Results from EDC's Annual Indepth Dialogue with Area Business Executive

The Executive Summary in PDF format (you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader or a similar program to open this document)


The Clay County Development Council (CCEDC), with the assistance of the Liberty Economic Development Corporation (LEDC), the Kearney Area Development Council (KADC), and the Smithville City Manager conducted extensive surveys with the executives of 75 existing Clay County businesses by means of one-on-one confidential interviews during the past twelve months.  This 2012 report includes 50 interviews conducted by the CCEDC and 25 by the LEDC during 2011.  This is the ninth consecutive year that the Business Synchronist Information System, supported by Kansas City Power & Light Company, has been employed to expand and enhance retention and expansion efforts in Clay County.

The Business Synchronist Information System questionnaire was developed by Blane, Canada, Ltd., of Chicago, and has been tested nationally and is employed in 39 states and provinces.  With the support of KCP&L, the Synchronist System forms the basis of the Kansas City metro-wide Business Retention Council program.  Over 900 economic development organizations now use Synchronist to provide an accurate picture of business retention and expansion opportunities.

The Synchronist Survey is a structured business information system focused on understanding a business through the use of four tools:

• Problem identification questions

• Predictive questions

• Marketing intelligence

• Business assessment

The result is hard data that provides information designed to help answer specific questions of concern to every economic development decision-maker and community or government leader.  These questions include:

• What is the company’s value to Clay County?

• Is the company at risk of relocating or downsizing?

• What is the growth potential of the company?

• What is the company’s level of satisfaction with Clay County and its services?

• Do any existing or emerging problems in the community pose a threat to existing or potential businesses?

• Are there untapped marketing opportunities (e.g., industries, companies, strategies) that could be leveraged for attracting new businesses to the community?

Click here to download the executive summary in PDF format.