The Lee's Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC) has partnered with Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street (DLSMS) to coordinate a survey of businesses in the downtown district of Lee's Summit. The business visit campaign will run for approximately six weeks beginning in late February and wrapping up in early April.
A letter will be sent to select downtown businesses explaining the survey and its purpose. A team of trained volunteers will follow-up with phone calls to schedule appointments to conduct the in-person interviews. The goal is to visit between 30 and 50 businesses.
"During the confidential interviews, the volunteer team will listen to the downtown business owners to find out if LSEDC and DLSMS can leverage their resources to help them achieve their objectives or overcome obstacles to growth," said Teresa Evans, Vice President of LSEDC, who is leading the downtown district study. "Our goal is to obtain honest, constructive feedback about doing business in downtown Lee's Summit, so we know what the community can do to enhance and improve the business environment."
Jeanine Rann, Executive Director of Downtown Lee's Summit Main Street, is proud of the collaboration with the LSEDC. "This project is a great example of the cooperative spirit among downtown businesses, our volunteers, and the LSEDC. Clearly this demonstrates the commitment by many to help the downtown succeed."
While the information gathered from each business will remain confidential, a formal report of aggregate data will be released in June 2010. This report may then serve as a resource to help identify strengths of doing business in the downtown district as well as areas for improvement. The goal of the process is to identify issues and trends which are specific to this business sector and to assist DSLMS, LSEDC and the City of Lee's Summit staff in determining potential actions which can be taken or assistance which can be provided to improve the viability of businesses operating in this business sector.
Jim Devine is 2010 Missouri Professional Economic Developer of the Year
