Business Climate Survey

As a part of our business retention and expansion program, the City and the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce Economic Development subcommittee surveyed existing businesses and entrepreneurs. The survey was posted to the City of Verona Facebook Page and website on January 31, 2019, sent out via email in the Verona Chamber Weekly Newsletter on February 13, 2019 and closed March 8, 2019. The purpose was to identify potential program focus areas for entrepreneurial and small business development in Verona. Of more than the 400 businesses and entrepreneurs located in Verona, 54 provided survey responses. The following summarizes the responses:

• Respondents valued the small hometown feel of Verona and its growth potential.
• On a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being poor, 5 being excellent), respondents rated the business climate of Verona at 3.8 (weighted average).
• Respondents were vaguely familiar with the small businesses development resources available to them through partner organizations in the Madison area such as the Small Business Development Center, Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation, SCORE and Merlin Mentors.
• Employee recruitment was the largest concern of respondents.

As a result of the survey responses, the Verona Area Chamber of Commerce is planning a professional development series to help connect the local business community with resources from our partner organizations. Contact the Chamber of Commerce at 608-845-5777 for more information regarding the professional development series.