2027 Chamber Issues Survey
Thank you for participating in the Chamber’s 2027 Public Policy & Legislative Survey. Your feedback is valued and will be used to guide the Chamber’s advocacy priorities for 2027. The survey will take roughly 10 minutes to complete.
What is your role within the business?
Owner
Senior Executive
Manager
Employee
Retired
Other
Approximately how many people does your organizaiton employ in the region?
1-9
10-49
50-249
250+
N/A
What do you think is the most important issue(s) facing the business community today? Type in your answer.
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Local Issues
Please share your perspective on key local policy priorities and issues affecting your business.
Please select three local issues that most impact your business and/or the business community.
Access to utilities
Development, zoning, and permitting
Downtown aesthetics and upkeep
Healthcare access and quality
Homelessness
Housing market
Infrastructure
Local and regional collaboration
Local government transparency
Local water quality
Mental health and addiction
New jail
Nuisance crime
Public transit
Rising utilities cost
SEA 1: local fiscal pressures
Small business support
Taxation
Workforce talent, recruitment, and readiness
Other
How have the effects of homelessness impacted your business? Type in your answer.
How safe do you feel in areas where homelessness is visible (e.g., near parks, downtown, or encampments)?
Unsafe
1
2
3
4
Safe
5
1 is Unsafe, 5 is Safe
Which strategies do you believe would be most effective in addressing homelessness in our community? Rank three answers to your most preferred.
What level of resources would you want the community to dedicate to reducing homelessness?
Significantly increase resources dedicated to addressing homelessness
Moderately increase resources dedicated to addressing homelessness
Maintain current levels of resources
Reduce current level of resources
Prioritize reallocating existing resources toward programs with measureable outcomes
Focus on prevention and long-term solutions rather than increasing overall spending
Unsure / need more information
Other
How would you rate current housing availability in the Bloomington-Monroe County area?
Not Available
1
2
3
4
Available
5
1 is Not Available, 5 is Available
How would you rate current housing affordability in the Bloomington-Monroe County area?
Not Affordable
1
2
3
4
Affordable
5
1 is Not Affordable, 5 is Affordable
What do you think is the most significant challenge with the Bloomington housing market today? Type in your answer.
How important is the strength of our two public school districts, MCCSC and RBBCSC, to Monroe County's ability to attract and retain employers, workers, and families?
Not Important
1
2
3
4
Important
5
1 is Not Important, 5 is Important
What prevents your business from establishing or expanding partnerships with local schools? Select up to three.
Background check or volunteer requirements
Difficulty aliging buisness needs with school priorites
Lack of administrative support
Lack of awareness of partnership opportunities
Lack of information
Lack of measurable outcomes
Liability, insurance, or safety concerns
Limited employee interest or participation
Limited funding
Limited opportunities for meaningful engagement
Partnerships require too much ongoing commitment
Scheduling
Staff time
Transportation
Unclear points of contact
Other
In what ways would your business be interested in partnering with MCCSC, RBBCSC, or other local schools? Select up to three.
Apprenticeships or pre-apprenticeship programs
Career fairs or career exploration events
Career readiness workshops (e.g., resumes, interviews, workplace skills)
Classroom presentations or guest speaking
Curriculum development or industry advisory committees
Hiring students or recent graduates
Job shadowing
Scholarships, donations, or program sponsorships
Student internships
Student monitoring
Student projects or real-world business challenges
Teacher externships or industry professional development
Work-based learning or cooperative education
Workplace tours
Not interested in partnering
Other
How do you perceive Bloomington-Monroe County's permitting process (length of time for decisions, transparency, communication, steps in process -- not outcomes)?
Very favorable
Somewhat favorable
Neutral
Somewhat unfavorable
Very unfavorable
I'm not familiar with the permitting process
How would you rate the permitting process in the Bloomington-Monroe County area compared to other communities where your business has operated or pursued projects?
Much easier and more efficient
Somewhat easier and more efficient
About the same
Somewhat more difficult or time-consuming
Much more difficult or time-consuming
Has only had permitting experiences in the Bloomington-Monroe County area
I'm not familiar with the permitting process
How would you rate Bloomington and Monroe County's current environment for business investment and economic growth?
Very favorable
Somewhat favorable
Neutral
Somewhat unfavorable
Very unfavorable
Unsure
For each of the following local factors, please indicate whether it currently acts as a major barrier, a minor barrier, has no impact, or is a positive driver for your business growht and investment.
Rows
Major Barrier (Negative)
Minor Barrier (Negative)
Neutral / No Impact
Positive Driver
Workforce Availability & Labor Costs
Local Regulations, Permitting, & Zoning
Taxes & Operating Costs
Real Estate & Land Availability
Infrastructure & Utilities
Local Market Demand & Customer Base
Housing Costs & Cost of Living
Have the boil water advisory, water rate increases, or water discoloration affected your perception of City of Bloomington Utilities (CBU)?
Significantly worsened my perception of CBU
Somewhat worsened my perceptoin of CBU
Did not affect my perception of CBU
Somewhat improved my perception of CBU
Significantly improved my perception of CBU
I was not aware of these issues or events
N/A
Other
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State Issues
Please share your perspective on key state policy priorities and issues affecting your business.
Please select the three state issues that are most important to your business.
Addiction and mental health services
Childcare
Economic development incentives
Economy- state tax/property tax policy
Education (K-12)
Higher education
Home rule/local autonomy
Infrastructure and transportation
Lack of publicly funded pre-kindergarten programs
Legalization of medical/recreational marijuana
SEA 1: state and local tax changes
Water resources and environmental regulations
Workforce talent, recruitment, and readiness
Other
What do you think is the most important issue your business faces in recruiting and retaining workers? Rank three answers to your most preferred.
Where should Indiana prioritize investment to support long-term economic growth? Select up to three.
Childcare
Economic development
Higher education / workforce training
Housing
Infrastructure
K-12 education
Mental health and addiction treatment
Public safety
Publicly funded pre-Kindergarten
Quality of place
Other
Within K-12 education, where should Indiana prioritize state investment? Rank your top three.
When considering the additional state or local tax reductions, how important is maintaining funding for core public services and infrastructure?
Not important
1
2
3
4
Important
5
1 is Not important, 5 is Important
How important is it that cities, counties, and school districts maintain flexibility to raise and allocate revenue based on local needs?
Not important
1
2
3
4
Important
5
1 is Not important, 5 is Important
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Federal Issues
Please share your perspective on key federal policy priorities and issues affecting your business.
Please select the three federal issues that are most important to your business.
Climate change
Criminal justice reform
Economic development incentives
Economy- consumer policy and protections, deregulation, changes in FDA
Economy- domestic tax policy
Economy- tariffs and international trade policy
Energy
Environmental regulations
Healthcare
Immigration policy
Infrastructure
Mental health and addiction treatment
Social security
Transportation
Other
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Chamber Advocacy
Please share your ideas on how the Chamber can best support and advocate for your business.
How do you feel the Chamber's Advocacy team could be of most benefit to you?
Memos summarizing the impacts of proposed legislation on business community
Assistance in preparing to speak at public hearings
Creating space (both physical space and convening) for dialogue between various stakeholders and interest groups
Workshops to better understand the city and permitting zoning regulations
Other
How important should supporting economic growth, business investment, and job creation be as a Chamber advocacy priority?
Not important
1
2
3
4
Important
5
1 is Not important, 5 is Important
Are there any specific topics you would like to see the Chamber host workshops on?
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