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q)CENTERFUSE <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />MARKET RESEARCH PROJECT <br />PURPOSE <br />CenterFuse's mission is to connect businesses with the resoutces they need to start, grow, and prosper. Our <br />pdmaty customers are businesses who are intetested in locating in Ellensburg, and existing businesses and <br />residents in Eliensburg. With the recent increase in inquiries about starting a business in Ellensburg, we <br />thought the time was right to check in with out existing customers to see how we are doing. <br />We wanted to look at ouf customer engagement over the past six months to learn more about the customer <br />expedence and how we might do better. \X/e embatked on a mini-market tesearch project ditected at <br />localf statefnational developers and real estate professionals who have a client(s) interested in Ellensburg and <br />who worked extensively with CenterFuse. The market reseatch project sought to: <br />a <br />a <br />a <br />Identift the pdmary and secondary factors end clients look for when <br />considedng starting ot re-locating their businesses to a Central \X/ashington <br />location. <br />Understand the data and information developets and real estate groups use <br />when assessing a location's fit for an end client. <br />Understand what collateral or information other local regions have on-hand <br />for developets that support client placement. <br />Gatn a fuller understanding of the tipical restrictions, permits, or other <br />barriers to business placement. <br />Factots impacting Site Selection <br />o Primary: Proximity to I90, Internet, Workforce. <br />o Secondary: Light Industrial Zoning,Acteage, <br />Skillset Availability. <br />o Noted but not factots: Taxes, utility rates. <br />'IYe look at locational <br />factors, traffic driuers. A <br />uniuersitl, I-90 h a big one. <br />Demographics and <br />population base. Just the <br />future growth. lYe look at <br />the age and income." <br />Experience Working With Ellensburg <br />. Experienced Ellensburg developers cite challenges <br />working with local govemment, specifically getting <br />accufate, consistent feedback on projects. <br />o Non-local real estate agents consistendy say <br />CenterFuse is extremely responsive, flexible and dialed- <br />in to local properly owners open to selling. <br />. Many v/ant to keep Ellensbutg in mind fot future <br />projects but feel limited by environmental impact issues <br />and the lack of industtial zoning. <br />Resource Needs <br />o Ellensburg-specificworkforce statistics. <br />o Online economic data and developer specific <br />information. <br />KEY FINDINGS OF THIS PROJECT <br />One-on-one interviews were fielded during November 2021 amons personnel ftom real estate groups or <br />developets who are actively working with CenterFuse in the Ellensburg market. A thitd-party interwiewer <br />engaged participants by phone. Interview responses were aggregated to isolate ftends or notable differences <br />across local versus non-local tespondents. <br />o Friendliness to businesses and development by city <br />plannets is a frequently used criteria. <br />Location Selection Wotkflow <br />o Clients formalb,e their site criteria. <br />r Clients identify cities/locations that align with their <br />cntena. <br />r Workforceavailability. <br />City Criteria & Property Identification <br />o Dtgttal listings are extremely valuable resoutces <br />used immediately in the selection process. <br />o Housing avaj,labihry mafters. <br />. ellensburgcenterluse@gmail,cor <br />,r ellensburocenterfuse,com <br />-Enensburs BusinessDeveropme" W')cENTERFUsE l l',?.:Sl,flili?r'r,#"' B ill:lliiJll