Hello Chamber of Commerce Members:

Welcome to our Focal Point Survey for the Fall 2011 Economic Briefing. Your contribution by completing this survey will help provide a picture of business conditions in the local area.

The Fall Breakfast for the La Porte and Michigan City Area Chambers will be held at PNC, Dec. 13, 2011, at 7:30 a.m.  Valparaiso Chamber will have a luncheon meeting set for Nov. 10, 2011 at noon. (See your local chamber for details regarding tickets).

Please reply to the survey by Oct. 28, 2011, 12:00 p.m.  Be sure to indicate which Chamber you primarily belong to for classification purposes.  Thank you for your time and attention.

Daniel Rutledge, Associate Professor of Business, Purdue North Central.

Part A:

For each item listed below, please indicate how your company/organization has been impacted over the past twelve months.

Part B:

Several items are listed below. Please indicate the two most important factors that you anticipate will impact your company/organization over the next twelve months.

Reaching sales/revenue level target
Controlling costs of doing business
Finding and keeping competent employees
Financial health and obtaining capital
Finding new business opportunities
Health care costs
Other

Business Optimism Score:

Please indicate how pessimistic or optimistic you feel regarding prospects for your company or organization over the next twelve months.
Scale: 1= very pessimistic to 9=very optimistic

Part C:

Business Profile - Indicate the characteristic in each category that best reflects your company or organization.

Business orientation: Profit Non-Profit

Employment size (locally): 1-9 10-19 20-49 50-99 100-249 250+

Years in business: 1-4 years 5-10 years 11-30 years 31-50 years 51+ years

Industry classification:
Manufacturing
Construction
Retailing
Services
Health Care
Transportation
Education
Government
Non-profit services
Other not listed above

Chamber of Commerce Membership (select one):
LaPorte
Michigan City
Valparaiso
Chesterton-Duneland Chamber