|
Business First Greater Richmond recently released the summary findings of 600 face-to-face interviews over the past year with owners and CEOs of Richmond areas companies. Highlights of the interviews include:
- A third of the businesses have definite plans to expand and create more than 1,800 new jobs over the next 12 months.
- Approximately 80 percent of the firms identified their primary product or service as belonging to an "emerging" or "growing" market.
- Fifty percent of those interviewed predict sales growth in excess of 10 percent over the next year.
- Largest employment gains are anticipated in health care, manufacturing, and professional services.
- Eighty-five percent rate the local business climate as good or excellent and 91 percent have an overall positive attitude about the community.
- Seventy-four percent rate workforce quality as good or excellent, although more than 200 firms report recruitment is a challenge.
The mission of the Business First Greater Richmond program and its network of partners is to help solve business problems, remove barriers to growth, and provide direct assistance to firms in need. "The Greater Richmond Partnership is pleased to support this program and we recognize how the success of existing industry affects the economic vitality of the region", states Gregory H. Wingfield, President and CEO of the Greater Richmond Partnership.
For the full text of the Business First Greater Richmond report can be accessed at www.businessfirstrichmond.com. |
