Attachment A

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Industry Cluster Interview Questions

Date Completed:

Interviewer Name:

Decline Interview: Yes No

Company Information:

1. Company Name:

Street:

City:

State:

Zip:

County:

DUN & Bradstreet Number: (optional)

Contact Information:

2. Salutation:

Mr. Mrs. Miss Ms. Mr. & Mrs.

First Name:

Last Name:

Title:

Telephone: ( )

Phone Ext:

Fax: ( )

E-Mail:

Website Address: http://

General Information:

3. Detailed Company Description:

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4. Year Established:

5. # employees: ___________ full-time ______________ part-time

6. Major SIC or NAICS code:

7. Does your company Export? Yes or No

Import? Yes or No

8. Minority Owned: Yes or No

Woman Owned: Yes or No

9. Government Sales: Prime? Yes or No

Subcontract? Yes or No

10. What part of your firm(s) is/are located in the region?

Please circle those that apply:

Headquarters

Research and development

Manufacturing

Other_________

Industry Cluster Information:

11. Industry clusters are comprised of companies that co-locate in close proximity because of

shared linkages such as similar technologies, related products, shared customers, buyer-

supplier relationships or a common labor pool, that present the opportunity for competitive

advantage. You have been selected to participate in this interview because a partnership of

regional workforce, economic development, and educational entities have classified your

industry as part of four (4) major industry clusters in Central Pennsylvania. Given this

definition:

a.) Were you aware that your industry might be classified as a cluster?

Social Capital:

12. Name up to three individuals or organizations with which you have COLLABORATED in

the recent past (for example, to bid on contracts together, attend trade show together, help fill

an order, share equipment or services, or participate in an industry education partnership),

and the type of cooperation. Interviewer Note: Collaboration is defined as being beneficial

to both parties.

13. Name up to three individuals or organizations (this may be, for example, a technical school,

competitor, customer, supplier, or consultant) that have helped you recently in some way.

(such as gave advice, shared information, or loaned equipment) and form of help (advice,

production, loan). Interviewer Note: Please have them indicate whether it was fee based or

free.

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14. Name up to three organizations and their locations, which YOU have recently helped out in

some way (such as gave advice, shared information, or loaned equipment) and form of help

(advice, production, loan).

15. Who do you consider to be leaders or innovators in your industry? (Probe for at least 3.)

16. What are the most important business groups, affiliations, and/or professional organizations

that your company belongs to? Why are they important to you? (Probe for at least 3)

17. What are the most important advisory committees and/or boards that your company is

involved in?

18. Do you think it would be important for your company to participate in more local/regional

networking opportunities? If yes, please describe.

Marketing & Sales:

19. What are your annual sales?

Confidential

< $250,000

$250,000-$500,000

$500,001-$999,999

$1 MM-$5 MM $5.1 MM- $10 MM

$10.1 MM-$15 MM

> $15 MM

20. Do you expect your sales to decline, grow, or remain status quo over the next 12 months?

Decline

Status Quo/No Growth

Growth

21. Do you have an Internet connection? If yes, which option best describes your connection?

T1 or higher

High Speed (DSL, Cable, Wireless)

Dial Up

None (if none, go to question #26)

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22. What is your current level of Internet connectivity?

adequate/appropriate

need more

N/A

23. Do you know of any other connection options that may be available in your area with

comparable or better service than your present provider?

yes

24. Did the availability of broadband factor into your company's decision to locate/expand into

this area or will it be a factor when you decide to expand in the future?

yes

N/A

25. Do you conduct any business online? If yes, which form of e-commerce do you use?

online transactional based selling

online transactional based purchasing

(ex. Shopping cart, paying with credit card, completing transaction online)

website/online directories

online banking

electronic correspondence (e-mail)

None

N/A

Other_____________________

26. What other channels do you use to market your product/services?

trade shows

trade magazines

direct sales

direct mail

television

radio

other________________________

27. Specifically, who are the most important customers of this firm's products/services?

Customers

Products

Location

(City, State)

Why do they buy from

you?

28. How does local demand for your products/services within Central Pennsylvania compare to

the demand for your products/services overall?

growing slower

growing more rapidly

about the same

N/A

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29. Specifically, who are the most important suppliers for your firm?

Suppliers

Products

Location

(City, State)

Why do you buy from

them?

30. Is your firm purchasing significant services, products, and/or raw materials from outside of

Central Pennsylvania? If so, what prevents them from being purchased in Central

Pennsylvania?

lack of suppliers

high cost

low quality

N/A

established relationships with current suppliers

Other_____________________

31. Do you think this region could benefit from the development of a regional brand or identity?

32. Currently, the 10-County region is referred to by some groups as Pennsylvania's Heartland.

Please indicate how accurate a description of the10-County region you think this is and,

secondly, how enticing this description is for those who hear it.

Pennsylvania's Heartland

[ ] very accurate

[ ] somewhat accurate

[ ] not very accurate

[ ] not at all accurate

Pennsylvania's Heartland

[ ] very enticing description

[ ] somewhat enticing description

[ ] not very enticing description

[ ] not at all enticing description

33. If properly and fully developed, could you see referring to this region as Pennsylvania's

Heartland in your company's marketing efforts?

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Business Climate:

34. Why did you locate to this area? Please rank up to your top 3 options. 1 being the most important 3

being less important.

Workforce/work ethic

Location

Proximity to markets

Cost of doing business

Access to raw materials

Proximity to suppliers

Transportation

Incentives

Proximity to educational institutions

Proximity to similar/related companies

Spin Off

Family Owned

None

No Opinion

Other______________

35. What are the top issues facing your business at this location? Please rank up to your top 3 options. 1

being the most difficult 3 being less difficult.

Competition

Cost of Health Care

Economy

Environmental Issues

Globalization

Marketing

Roads

Sales

Taxes

Water

Workforce

Utilities

Building improvements

On-site expansion

New sites needed

Technology

Other______________

None

36. Who are your main competitors? Where are they located?

Competitors

Location (City, State)

Workforce:

37. Do you expect your employment to decline, grow, or remain status quo over the next 12

months?

Decline_#________

Growth_#________

Status Quo

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38. Which job categories do you expect to fill in the next 12 months?

Management

Business and Financial Op

Engineering

Information Technology

Education

Social Services

Communications/Marketing Scientific

Agricultural

Personal Services

Professional Services

Production

Transportation

Construction

Administrative Support

Hospitality Services

Sales

Maintenance/Repair

Healthcare

Protective Services

Technicians

Other_________

None

39. Which job categories do you find the most difficult to fill or retain? Please indicate (F) for fill and (R)

for retain. Please rank up to your top 3 options. 1 being the most difficult 3 being less difficult.

Management

Business and Financial Op

Engineering

Information Technology

Education

Social Services

Communications/Marketing Scientific

Agricultural

Personal Services

Professional Services

Production

Transportation

Construction

Administrative Support

Hospitality Services

Sales

Maintenance/Repair

Healthcare

Protective Services

Technicians

Other_________

None

40. What job categories are crucial to the success of your firm?

Please rank up to your top 3 options. 1 being the most crucial - 3 being less crucial.

Management

Business and Financial Op

Engineering

Information Technology

Education

Social Services

Communications/Marketing Scientific

Agricultural

Personal Services

Professional Services

Production

Transportation

Construction

Administrative Support

Hospitality Services

Sales

Maintenance/Repair

Healthcare

Protective Services

Technicians

Other_________

None

41. Which skills are most lacking in this region?

Please Rank up to your top 3 options. 1 being in very short supply 3 being less.

Reading Comprehension

Active Listening

Writing

Speaking

Mathematics

Science

Critical Thinking

Monitoring/Quality Control

Negotiation

Instructing

Problem Solving

Programming

Equipment Maintenance

Troubleshooting

Repair

Systems Analysis

Decision Making

Time Management

Other____________

None

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42. What are the educational requirements for the majority of entry-level workers within your facility?

(Multiple answers are acceptable)

Previous work experience in a related field

Experience in the field

High school education or equivalent

Post high school (technical school, etc.)

Post high school (college)

None

Other____________

43. Name up to three organizations you have used (or your employees have used) for education or

training in the past year (e.g. basic skills, IT, management, or vendor) and type of training. Are local

educational and training institutions fulfilling your firm's workforce development needs? What are

their strengths? What are their shortcomings?

Educational and Training Institutions

Name of Institution

Type of Training

Strength

Shortcoming

Economic Development Resources:

44. Please indicate the regional economic development service providers you are aware of and

used in the region.

Technology:

Ben Franklin Technology Partners

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

PennTAP

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Industrial Modernization Center

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Other:________________________________

Financing:

Industrial Development Corporations (IDC)

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Chamber of Commerce

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

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Ben Franklin Technology Partners

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Clinton County Revolving Loan Fund (RLF)

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

SEDA-Council of Governments

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Lock Haven Enterprise Zone

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Williamsport Enterprise Zone

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Other:________________________________

Marketing: (includes exporting and procurement activities)

Chamber of Commerce

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Small Business Development Center

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

SEDA-Council of Governments

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Other:________________________________

Manufacturing:

Industrial Modernization Center

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

West Branch Manufacturers Association

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Small Business Development Center

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

PennTAP

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Other:________________________________

Workforce:

Central Pennsylvania Workforce Development Corporation

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

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Career Link

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Pennsylvania College of Technology

aware and used

aware and not used

not aware

Other:________________________________

Business Development:

Small Business Development Centers