LINCOLN PLAN

SWOT ANALYSIS

Lincoln, Nebraska

Project Update and SWOT Report

February 17, 2003

LINCOLN PLAN
SWOT ANALYSIS

February 2003

AngelouEconomics (AE) is pleased to present the Lincoln Partnership for Economic Development (LPED) and the advisory committee with the SWOT Analysis Report. This document is one of several examining the economy, demographics, image, marketing opportunity, and business climate of Lincoln and Lancaster County. The report provides an inventory of the areas strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) and assesses the degree to which each element supports future economic development. The overall goal is to have a clear understanding of Lincolns assets and areas of potential to be built upon and better marketed. Observations in this report are based on significant input collected at the local level during focus groups, interviews, on-line surveys, and team discussions. Key findings are based on a review of prior studies, The 2002 Technology Council Report, and various other reports, marketing, and finance documentation. The final report will be available online at www.marketlincoln.com at the end of February. Thank you for your input.

Angelos Angelou, Principal Nicole Urbis, Project Manager AngelouEconomics

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Report Two: SWOT Analysis

Table of Contents
I. SWOT Analysis a. Overview b. Purpose c. II. Key Findings

Economic Development Variables a. Business Climate and Entrepreneurship b. Workforce and Education c. Quality of Life

d. Infrastructure e. Economic Development Efforts III. Appendix

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SWOT Analysis Overview
In the initial phase of this project, we conducted focus groups, interviews, and distributed surveys via the project Web site, www.marketlincoln.com, to gather community input. By receiving input from a broad base of individuals, we are able to understand Lincolns assets and weaknesses. This allows us to form recommendations that comprise the economic development strategy. As of January 31, we have obtained information from over 450 individuals and businesses. An acknowledgement of the contributors and a summary of survey findings highlighting major areas that need improvement are included in the appendix section of this report. We support our analysis throughout this report by mentioning survey and interview responses. It is important to examine the communitys perceptions for key economic development variables because they directly relate to workforce development, business retention and recruitment efforts. For instance, if community individuals have a different definition of what they stand for (image), city assets, or benefits of working in Lincoln, internal marketing is needed. Internal marketing communicates a message to the entire community so that its citizens become advocates and speak in a unified language. When Lincolns leaders form a common vision in economic development, the region stands a better chance of success in recruiting new jobs and capital investment. The SWOT Analysis helps us identify areas that will make a dramatic impact on Lincoln and leads to our final marketing and recruitment plan. In this report, we examine five factors for Lincoln: Business Climate and Entrepreneurship Workforce and Education Infrastructure Quality of Life Economic Development Efforts

We characterize our SWOT in these terms: Strengths (Positive, Internal): Positive attributes currently present in Lincoln, particularly in comparison to competitors and the U.S. Weaknesses (Negative, Internal): Local issues or characteristics that limit the current or future growth opportunities for Lincoln Opportunities (Positive, Internal and External): Areas where Lincoln can remedy its weaknesses (learning from others, state-level assistance, global change, aggressive marketing, targeted investment, etc.) Threats (Negative, Internal and External): Trends that threaten Lincolns future and attractiveness to new industry, from local weaknesses or global threats

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Purpose of SWOT Analysis
The diagram below illustrates the purpose of the SWOT Analysis in relation to the project process and timeline.

The findings of the SWOT Analysis will be the foundation for: identifying industry targets, creating a brand identity, and defining the marketing position. The Economic and Demographic Assessment, Report One, contains an overview of the trends impacting Lincolns workforce and business growth, while comparing the city to six benchmark communities: Des Moines, Iowa; Kansas City (Overland Park / Johnson County), KS; Madison, WI; Lexington, KY; Sioux Falls, SD; and Tulsa, OK. A benchmark community is considered a competitor, partner, or community that Lincoln desires to emulate. Report One, the SWOT Analysis Report, and infrastructure evaluation are the starting point to identifying target industries. The diagram to the right illustrates the six areas we analyze to determine optimal targets. Lincolns brand and marketing strategy will be developed after identifying the target industries and audiences. The final report will be a comprehensive plan with short and longterm strategies that clearly state action items, responsibilities, and measurements.
Cluster analysis

Current industry clusters

Infrastructure analysis

Future growth industries

Economic assessment Incentives inventory

Sites and infrastructure

Target Industries
Available workforce Community vision
Workforce assessment Employer surveys

Business climate

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Key SWOT Findings
The good news is that Lincoln does not have an economic crisis in its hands. The bad news is that without an economic crisis present, it is often difficult to rally significant community support and develop strong public -private partnerships to move economic development in a new direction. So, Lincoln has a lot of soul searching to do and do it quickly. The choices for the community are clear: 1) Keep the status quo and do nothing, a choice that would lead to a steady decline in the local economy long term 2) Or find ways to re-invigorate economic development appeal to community pride and determination to overcome barriers and build a strong economy for future generations If the later is the choice then Lincoln has some homework to do. We have identified three key areas that are vital to improving Lincolns image and marketability: Public and private collaboration Infrastructure Entrepreneurial development Public and private collaboration Public and private collaboration occurs when economic development organizations, government, universities, and community organizations develop strong alliances with local businesses. When all of these groups have a common vision and the necessary leadership to execute a plan, the city as a whole is rewarded. Lincolns public and private sector are disconnected, and it is not clear on who Lincoln is and what the city represents. As one survey respondent stated, The economic development team needs to learn how to work more closely together. To address this issue, business and government leaders must expand their level of communication. For instance, leaders from both sectors should aggressively promote Lincolns new brand and marketing message throughout the entire community. The presence of a major university strongly enhances a regions competitive advantage. Ongoing collaboration between university officials and economic developers is visible in many of the worlds most successful cities. We encourage Lincolns economic development organizations to work closely with the University of Nebraska (UNL) for several reasons. The university provides a source for improving the regions base of high-paying professional jobs and diversity of its workforce. University resources can be used to promote Lincolns capacity for growth in targeted industries. The UNL has well-respected, forward-thinking educators and progressive programs, but the city is not making use of this asset. Often, for example, universities assume a role in educating the community. Professors and students can research and become an information source about the local economy. As summarized by one Lincoln resident, more emphasis on business and education working as a team will provide better work opportunities for everyone. Infrastructure Infrastructure includes physical attributes such as utilities, transportation, communication, real estate, and soft characteristics like city permit processes and professional networking organizations. The lack of competition in the local telecommunication market, major roads stopping short of the downtown area, and high real estate costs, are just some of the concerns expressed by many business leaders. Lincoln should connect its young professionals to share ideas and learn from one another. The city must invest and build the necessary physical infrastructure to grow

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businesses and improve quality of life attributes. Most importantly, Lincoln must streamline its permit process to meet the needs of existing and new businesses. Entrepreneurial development Entrepreneurship thrives in cities with good access to investment capital and networks for both investors and entrepreneurs. Lincoln contains many resources to support business start-ups, but lacks investors to fund new companies. There is a high level of dedicated, knowledgeable professionals who help to transition academic knowledge into business applications through the technology transfer facilities. However, without financial support, these businesses are unable to grow. There is a need for the community to identify angel investors. Lincolns excellent technology support organizations are underutilized. We encourage the private and public sectors to promote entrepreneurial awareness, communicate its benefits to the entire community, and expand technology transfer facilities. This can be done through local media, promotional campaigns, and speaking engagements at community events.

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Business Climate and Entrepreneurship
Lincoln enjoys the benefits of having a central location, a stable local economy, and a nationally recognized university. The stable economy is due to a large extent from local and state government and education related jobs as well as the presence of many small to mid-size businesses in the electronics, communication equipment, and transportation industries. Lincoln has an opportunity to further enhance these strengths. When asked to rate the most important factors in a business location, Lincoln companies ranked business climate among their top five: Strong economic growth (65%*) Effective government leadership (63%) Business climate (61%) General economy (60.5%) Image of the city as a place to do business (60%) * Percentage of companies rating the factor a 5 - very important While conducting this SWOT Analysis, the consulting team noted many assets within Lincoln that could constitute a healthy business climate, yet on the whole, local businesses ranked Lincolns business climate between below average and average. Much of this negative perception could be a result of low awareness of the many assets already present in the community. Lincolns major business climate and entrepreneurship strengths include many technology support organizations, the well respected University of Nebraska Lincoln, and strong K-12 education systems. With an abundance of technology support organizations, Lincoln is well positioned to support its current companies technology needs and become a location for start-up businesses. The areas technology support organizations include the UNL Technology Park; UNLs science, information technology, and entrepreneurship programs; the Nebraska Center of Excellence in Electronics; the Beadle Center; and the J.D. Edwards Program. Many of the aforementioned facilities face financial challenges. One culprit is lack of funding and support from the private sector and economic development organizations. The city lacks a network of angel investors. For Lincoln to retain entrepreneurial talent, local business angels need to financially support and market start-ups. Although The University of Nebraska Technology Park illustrates a balanced initial investment approach, it currently is deficient in funds to market and grow the facility. This 130-acre park is ideally located five minutes from UNL, but is only 15% developed. This presents an opportunity to nurture and recruit the right businesses. The UNLs J.D. Edwards Honors Program in Computer Science and Management is a powerful tool that both existing and newly recruited businesses should utilize. The J.D. Edwards Design Studios pool of consulting talent can be used as a cost efficient source to building more technology savvy companies. The city should leverage this asset and help individuals find permanent positions or start businesses after graduation. The Nebraska Center for Excellence in Electronics provides training, product development support, and testing for regulatory compliance of electronic products. This 15,700 square foot state-of-the-art facility is well equipped to support developments in the electronics industries, but currently is underutilized, given the downturn in the technology sector. The Nebraska Enterprise Forum organization, which is dedicated to helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses by linking them with potential partners, business services, and capital, needs to be supported and integrated into the economic development efforts.

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All entrepreneurial organizations in Lincoln are underutilized and under funded. They all need to increase the awareness of their programs and build local support and participation. As mentioned in the Key SWOT Findings section, a significant opportunity is for the private and public sectors to support Lincolns entrepreneurial resources. The technology support organizations are underutilized, yet they could become incredible tools for the community. We encourage the public sector to implement internal marketing programs that will build awareness. Develop an entrepreneurs resource guide that lists the resources available in the region and all business start-ups. Such a publication could become the springboard for educating Lincoln residents about the many opportunities for starting and expanding a business in the city.

Strengths

Opportunities Promote entrepreneurial awareness Communicate community and regional partnerships Targeted marketing strategy Leverage UNL R&D Network of angel investors Strong government leadership Targeted incentives Streamline development process

Business Climate and Entrepreneurship

Excellent technology support organizations Low electric rates Talented, trained workforce Stable economy Respected UNL entrepreneurial programs

Weaknesses Low utilization of entrepreneurial resources Lack of entrepreneurial awareness Cultural diversity Perceived high land cost / taxes Lengthy permit process Not Omaha Untargeted incentives

Threats

Omaha Shortage of skilled-workers Loss of high-paying jobs Aggressive incentives by other mid-west states Manufacturing moving overseas

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Workforce and Education
Lincoln is recognized for its educational backbone, from K-12 to its many universities and colleges. UNLs ability to grow their science and technology programs has led to national awareness and well deserved R&D funding, which attracts superb professors and students. Its athletic teams have also driven major national recognition. During 2002, the University received $145.8 million in contracted R&D total sponsorship program awards a 25% increase over 2001. K-12 is rated the highest in importance for Lincoln residents by 67.6% of the survey respondents. Lincoln is home to a talented, highly dedicated, and loyal workforce, a common characteristic of mid-western communities. As one survey respondent noted, Mid-western values are strong here. The people I work with are honest and hard working, very family oriented, educated people. The city should strive to grow a more culturally diverse population. UNL could be one source for diversification: Students from all areas of the U.S. attend UNL. We encourage city and university leaders to jointly market UNLs ranking as one of the best value colleges in the nation to national and international students. This marketing campaign could also feature UNL graduates that are currently operating successful entrepreneurial businesses. Another strength is the LPED job Web site, lincolnjobs.com. LPED has done an excellent job of supporting local private companies, connecting job seekers that currently reside in Lincoln and outside of the city. The Web Site could be expanded to provide greater connection between job seekers and workforce development providers. Many survey respondents stated the need for higher paying jobs and better career opportunities. About 55 percent of survey respondents rated the workforce training programs as average, suggesting an opportunity for improvement. Similarly, business respondents rated the availability of workforce as average, also meaning that a further opportunity for outreach programs to attract and train the workforce is present. As described in the Business Climate section, entrepreneurship provides a career alternative for Lincolns professionals. As the climate for business start-ups improves in Lincoln, the region will be better able to expand its workforce. Increasing awareness of entrepreneurship resources available in Lincoln will help retain UNL graduates from the science and engineering fields, young professionals seeking job change, and a more culturally diverse population. UNLs Beadle Center focuses on bioinformatics and nanotechnology, validating the dedication and vision of future high-impact industry opportunities. Its 140,000 square feet contains the latest in teaching technologies and state-of-the-art research. The contemplated expansion could provide an additional opportunity for Lincoln to retain the high skill, high tech professionals graduating from UNL. The new PrairieFire supercomputer, the 8 -fastest computer at an American university, allows researchers to analyze huge data sets and perform complex modeling. Innovative technologies developed at UNL could be spun-out into start-up businesses. Leveraging this type of intellectual property can become part of the vision of moving economic development forward.
th

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Strengths Opportunities Mid-level professional jobs Larger segment of young diverse professionals Entertainment options for young professionals Strong linkage of education programs and economic development Improve awareness of workforce training programs Expand training opportunities Increasing base of international students Greater ethnic diversity

Workforce and Education

Highly educated and dedicated workers Nationally renowned college Forward-thinking educators College and university programs Lincolnjobs.com Above average high school graduation rate

Weaknesses Ethnic diversity Shortage of high-paying jobs Few networking opportunities for young professionals No organized method of integrating new young hires into the community Disconnected university and economic development programs

Threats

Migration of skilled workers Overall workers shortage

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Quality of Life
Lincolns family-oriented environment has attracted high-income residents for many years. Its wellgroomed neighborhoods place families in close proximity to high ranked schools, parks, and recreational activities. Lincoln also offers residents a low crime rate, first-class hospitals, and sufficient retail shopping. Residents feel that the city is a safe place with excellent health care services. Another positive attribute is the communitys pride and national name recognition. UNLs sports, Childrens Museum, downtown area, Farmers Market, Hay Market, and numerous community annual events continue to enhance Lincolns quality of life. Lincoln has the opportunity to expand entertainment options for the young professionals. Survey respondents request that Lincolns leaders encourage entertainment options that appeal to a culturally diverse population. For instance, consider establishing an International Festival in the summer. Several residents mentioned that the city needs a bigger venue for popular artists and cultural events. Another respondent asked the city to place more focus on recreation opportunities and making the city an attractive place for families. While some of the local population is satisfied with Lincolns quality of life aspect, others see room for improvement. About 50 percent of survey participants ranked mobile phone service, air connectivity and entertainment & recreation as average. The city faces a challenge when targeting high-tech individuals from larger cities because this audience is accustomed to more product diversity in entertainment options, housing, and retail offerings. Lincoln is taking steps in the right direction by considering Antelope Valley, a mixed use residential and retail development which will make the downtown area more attractive. Some businesses are concerned with having to drive to Omaha for air travel, but for the most part, it appears that the community understands the current choices, services, and pricing. Air transportation is not a significant hindrance to Lincolns economic development, although there is a need to communicate options with the community. The city offers good, although expensive, regional connections. Omaha is within a reasonable driving time for a broad array of destinations. We encourage continued growth of downtown activities such as the Mayors Abraham Lincoln celebration, technology fair, jazz in June, July Jam, and other family-related activities.

Strengths Family-oriented Quality health care services Community pride Good recreational activities UNL Sports Program Impressive entertainment and cultural venues Children's Museum and Downtown Farmers' Market

Opportunities Wider selection of housing options Young professionals networking group High paying jobs Communicate air travel options and cost analysis Accommodate young demographic Increase downtown living options (e.g. Smart City look and feel) Better government leadership

Quality of Life

Weaknesses Perceived high housing costs Overall no unique arts / entertainment / cultural scene High property tax Limited outdoor activities Lack of professional sports Climate

Threats Few entertainment options for young professionals may cause them to leave Lincoln Out migration of skilled workers Overall appearance Downtown degradation Poor land use planning Low paying jobs Diversity of housing

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Infrastructure
Lincolns has several infrastructure strengths for encouraging economic growth, including competitive utility costs, a good supply of land that could be developed, and access to major highways are strengths for encouraging economic growth. In the short-term, the top business parks should ensure that they are well equipped to service high impact businesses with potentially demanding needs. The City, LPED, and real estate developers should cooperate in promoting the regions high capacity, affordable power and land. With Lincolns low energy rates, businesses gain a competitive advantage. Lincoln could become the primary market for high users of electricity in manufacturing and service businesses alike. This advantage needs to be aggressively promoted to high energy consuming businesses. In 2002, the Mayors Technology Council hired HDR to assess the condition of telecommunication services and pricing in Lancaster County. The report concluded that communities need a choice of communication providers, each of which offers a full service bundle of local and long distance telephony, digital cable television, wireless services, and high-speed Internet access. If Lincoln wants to attract and recruit technology-centric businesses, it needs to build a more competitive telecommunication sector. Many Lincoln residents feel that the area is underserved by telecommunication providers. One survey respondent stated, More competition is necessary for incumbent utilities, specifically telecommunications and cable television. In an interview, a local business leader said, Lincoln has been a closed market in many sectors for too long. By not allowing outside competition, prices are too high, thus limiting growth. Survey participants also suggested that Lincoln should construct several new roadways, such as a bypass and a north and south road through the downtown area. The consulting team believes that the current infrastructure projects underway will provide easier access to downtown and can contribute to a long-term plan for mobility improvements throughout the City. Lincolns permitting process is lengthy; nearly triple the duration of benchmark communities. It is imperative that this process be streamlined so that Lincoln can compete and recruit new highimpact businesses. Many businesses leaders that were interviewed stated that this must be addressed if Lincoln wants to win expansion or new business projects.

Strengths State capital Good availability of business sites Lincoln and Omaha airports Great rail system Competitive utility costs Plenty of sites available Lack of traffic congestion

Opportunities Marketing to target industries Continue to study Antelope Valley project return on investment Funding for new expansion and new business North / south roadway through downtown Telecommunication competition to improve service and reduce pricing Long-term financing

Infrastructure

Weaknesses Falling behind on infrastructure Lack of telecommunication (ISP) market competition Restrictive and lengthy permit process Average air transportation options Low levels of electricity reserve Underutilized downtown Major roadway connectivity Pay as you go financing Long-term airport viability

Threats

Communities offering better business sites Shorter permit processes elsewhere

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Economic Development Efforts
Expansion is on the minds of many Lincoln employers. A majority of survey respondents indicated that their business is planning to grow within the next two years great news for the city. 56% plan to expand employment 81% to expect to be profitable 58% to expand purchases from suppliers 50% to invest more in equipment, and 45% expect to take more office and manufacturing space

This brings up a critical economic development issue for Lincolns leaders: How can the city ensure that these businesses expand locally? A stronger economic development initiative is required. Lincoln is fortunate to have many strong economic development organizations working in its favor, such as: The Chamber, LPED, The Downtown Lincoln Association, universities, Lincoln Electric System, and real estate development firms. Improved cooperation between these organizations will help Lincoln reach its full potential. A clear process for making decisions and taking action must accompany this collaboration. Many interviews with local business leaders point out a strong need for improvement in the three main areas. Building trust among economic development organizations cooperation will save the city from duplicate efforts, saving time and money Promoting greater awareness and consistent branding internal marketing can help Lincoln adopt a single brand and make residents aware of the citys many resources Moving toward Action and Implementation indecision among local government officials frustrates residents and businesses

As one individual stated, Lincoln suffers from a lack of vision, identity, and motivation to sculpt the future of the community. Lincoln needs to decide what we want our community to look like and stick to a plan to reach that objective. Lincoln has a major opportunity to build a brand identity, including positioning the citys unique traits to the right audiences. The city needs to involve local visionaries in economic development to make things happen. In the short-term, Lincoln should form community alliances among all organizations that support economic development. Begin by identifying goals that will mutually benefit each group and Lincoln as a whole. Economic development organizations and local business leaders must come together united in support of the marketing and branding program resulting from this effort. This activity should be less about having the right program and more about moving towards implementation. Marketing missions should be considered in a way that brings local business leaders and economic development officials working together in selling the areas advantages to cities/regions outside the State of Nebraska. At the same time, local business leaders should encourage employee involvement and citizen participation in becoming marketing representatives so that the community speaks with one voice in economic development. A weakness to expanding or locating in the area is the lengthy development process. City officials are currently studying this issue. Several possible solutions include: Pre-permit sites for specific land uses

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Conduct ongoing training sessions with local developers, engineering and architectural firms on current regulations and laws Develop collateral materials which explain Lincolns development process Online permitting 24-hour, on-site permitting and approval for key projects Consolidate various department approval processes Establish process of continuous improvements, conduct regular meetings with business leaders Reduce timetable for approvals Benchmark development fees with competing communities Amortize development fees over longer time frame

We suggest extending creative incentives to expanding businesses, entrepreneurs, and anchor employers within our identified targeted industries. Lincoln should: balance its effort to support and attract new businesses, offer special incentives for entrepreneurs, adopt special incentives to attract anchor tenants.

Strengths Successful partnership, founded in 1996 Creative, pro-growth team Business and expansion program Strong interest History of E.D. planning

Opportunities Building upon new Chamber leadership, unified approach, brand, and marketing Community and regional partnerships Improve business prospects visit Working with all technology support organizations Support downtown initiatives Strong entrepreneurial development Alliance with local government Connected university and economic development efforts Clear targeted E.D. vision

Economic Development Efforts

Weaknesses

Threats Under capitalized funding Continued slow in national and statewide growth Lack of coming to a consensus may keep city at a stand still Government indecision Omaha Competitive incentives Fail to implement No clear vision Uncoordinated or duplicated efforts

Unclear image and sometimes negative Lack of brand and targeted marketing strategy Lack of trust, communication, and coordination among organizations Challenges with gaining buy-in and implementation

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Appendix
I. II. III. Overview of Survey Findings Acknowledgements Survey

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Overview of Survey Findings The two graphs below show the top five areas of importance and areas that Lincoln needs to improve.

Individual Findings
Top Areas of Importance
59.9 56.3

Top Areas to Improve

14.6 23.8

16.5
61.5 67.6

19.9
63.3

18.3
High Paying Jobs Jab Availability Career Advancement Effective Government Leadership Location for High Tech
Percentage of Respondents Rating Factor Poor

Career Advancement Low Crime Job Availability

K-12 Education Good Healthcare

Percentage of Respondents Ranking Factor Very Important

Corporate Findings
Top Areas of Importance
57.9 64.5

Top Areas to Improve

14.5 31.6 14.5

60 62.2

14.7
60.5
Strong Economic Growth Effective Governmnet Leadership Business Climate General Economy K-12 Education
Percentage of Respondents Ranking Factor Very Important

30.3
Effective Government Leadership Tax Cost State & Local Incentives Regulatory Environment Image
Percentage of Respondents Rating Factor Poor

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The following charts indicate that corporate survey respondents are optimistic of their growth expectations and profitability over the next two years.

Growth Expectations
90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Employment Profitability

81 70.2 55 45 70 75 Small Medium Large

Growth Expectations
80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Supplier Purchases Equipment Investment Real Estate Office Manufacturing Space 40 35 25 25 80 70.2 64.8 55

40

Small Medium Large

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Industry Demographics
9.2 22.9

0 1.3

26.3

38.2 Government Construction Other Services Manufacturing

13.2 Retail Agriculture

Industry Demographics
Employment size
20
40 37.3

Revenue

37

20
22.6
Small 1-10 employees Medium 11-50 employees Large 51+ employees
$0-$1 Million $1-$5 Million $5 Million or More

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Small / Medium / Large Businesses

Small 1-10 Employees Medium 11-50 Employees Large 51+ Employees

Industry Distribution

Government/ Non-profit Services Retail Construction Manufacturing Agriculture Other

Initial advertisement and article in LJS highlighting project goals.

Community e-mail campaign to contacts LJS article encouraging community to visit www.marketlincoln.com

Lincoln Chamber Newsletter with project update article

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Online Survey

General Information Your name: Address: Email: Additional contact information: Company name (if applicable): Company address: Industry: Product / service: Your position and title: Company web site address: For companies: How long has your business been located in Lancaster County? ____________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________ _______________________

How many people are employed in your company? Total: In Lincoln: _____________ _____________

What is your annual revenue? $0-$1million $20-$50 million $1-$5 million $50 - $100 million $5-$20 million $100 million and above

Tell us about your growth expectations over the next 2 years Maintain Employment Revenue Profitability Supplier purchases Equipment investment Real estate office / manufacturing space Expand Decline

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For Residents: How important are the following factors to you? (1=not important; 5=very important) 1 Education K-12 education University of Nebraska Local community colleges Workforce training programs Livability Cost of living Entertainment / recreation Arts / Culture Low crime Good healthcare Family environment Climate Good value housing Infrastructure Air connectivity Highway Driving time to business/vacation destinations Mobile phone service High speed Internet connectivity Working environment Job availability Career advancement opportunities High paying jobs Equal opportunity based on gender/race General Economy Image of city as a place to live Effective government leadership Strong business growth Location for high tech activity For Companies: How important are the following factors to you? (1=not important; 5=very important) 1 Education K-12 education University of Nebraska Local community colleges Workforce training programs Workforce Recruitment / Retention Cost of living Entertainment / recreation Arts / Culture Low crime 2 3 4 5 How well does Lincoln satisfy your needs for needs? (1=not well;5= very well) 1 2 3 4 5 2 3 4 5 How well does Lincoln satisfy your needs for needs? (1=not well;5= very well) 1 2 3 4 5

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Good healthcare Family environment Climate Good value housing Business Climate Tax cost Regulatory environment State and local incentives / assistance Proximity to customers Proximity to suppliers Availability of quality workers Cost of labor Entrepreneurial environment Infrastructure Air connectivity Highway Driving time to business destinations Mobile phone service High speed Internet connectivity Cost of utilities General Economy Image of city as a place to do business Effective government leadership Strong economic growth Location for high tech Research and development resources For all respondents: Are there any improvements you would like to see in Lancaster County? Other information you would like to share with us?

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