The results are in for Hanover’s Business Retention and Expansion Study.
123 businesses representing 25 per cent of Hanover’s businesses participated in the very detailed survey.
Spokesperson Stephanie Crilly says the results were very positive.
93 per cent of businesses surveyed rated the business climate in Hanover as good or excellent.
During the last 3 years, 64 per cent of businesses reported an increase in their total dollars sales trends.
And 15 per cent cited the same or no significant change in sales trends.
61 per cent are expecting higher total dollar sales and 24 per cent are expecting the same sales in comparison to 2008.
94 per cent of businesses are finding that their market share is either staying the same or experiencing growth.
Some of the barriers to business retention and expansion included the lack of industrial land, skilled labour and serviced land.
Business taxes was cited as another barrier.
The survey also revealed a need for better downtown signage for parking and public restrooms, more hotel accommodations, more and better festivals and a desire for a farmers market.
Crilly says it’s now time to put all of this data to work.
The action items identified have been assigned to various community groups and Crilly says we should see results from this within the next 6 to 12 months.