Dear Business Owner,

The Hampton Roads economic developers and other city leaders are itnerested in identifying the additional services business establishments in their cities and counties need.  This is an important activity given the proven correlation between the health of the local economy and the retention of existing businesses, particularly small companies.  Small businesses represent 98% of all businesses and localities are looking for ways to make them feel welcome and to keep them healthy.

However, identifying those small businesses that need assistance is hampered by a lack of basic demographic and trend identification information.  Currently, basic demographic information on smalll businesses, particularly minority businesses within the Commonwealth of Virginia is gathered once every ten years during the U.S. Census.  It is not sufficiently detailed nor gathered often enough to serve as an adequate, timely data capture to allow individual jurisdictions to identify small business groups, by industry, that need assistance.

We would appreciate your assistance determining the current state of minority businesses in our communities.  Please fill out the following survey to help us help you.  It will only take 5 minutes to complete and the information you provide is invaluable for us to help you grow your business. 

Thank you so much for taking the time.  Each of our cities hopes to design future programs that are better and more focused, based on your information.