Southwest Virginia Small Business Ecosystem Partner Survey: Start Here • Virginia Department of Small Business and Supplier Diversity

Phone

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Tell Us About Your Organization

(Approx. 2-3 minutes to complete)

Your Organization Name(Required)

Your Name(Required)

Your Title(Required)

Email(Required)

What geographic area(s) does your organization serve?(Required)

Briefly describe your organization's role in supporting small businesses in Southwest Virginia.(Required)

Understanding the Small Business Ecosystem

(Approx. 3-5 minutes to complete)

What are the most significant needs you are currently seeing among the small businesses and entrepreneurs you serve?(Required)

Access to Capital/Financing

Business Startup Assistance

Business Growth/Scaling

Workforce/Recruitment

Government Contracting/Procurement

Marketing/Sales

Technology/Digital Transformation

Business Planning

Succession/Exit Planning

Certifications

Innovation

Commercial Space/Location

Tourism/Hospitality

Other

If you selected "Other," please specify:

What are businesses asking for that your organization is currently unable to provide?(Required)

Where do you see opportunities for organizations to work together more effectively?(Required)

Partnership Referrals

(Approx. 2-3 minutes to complete)

What does a successful referral approach look like to you?(Required)

What would make it easier for your organization to connect a small business with another organization when the need falls outside of your area of expertise?(Required)

How confident are you that you currently know where to refer a small business when you cannot meet their needs?(Required)

Very confident

Somewhat confident

Not so confident

Not at all confident

What would increase your confidence in making referrals to other small business support organizations? (Select all that apply)(Required)

A current partner contact directory

A directory organized by type of business need

Clear descriptions of partner programs and services

A designated contact person at each organization

A formal referral process

Warm introductions/referrals

More regular partner meetings

Regular email updates about programs and opportunities

Sharing training/resources

A centralized online resource

Other

If you selected "Other," please specify:

How Can SBSD Better Serve Your Organization

(Approx. 2-3 minutes to complete)

What could SBSD provide that would help your organization accomplish its mission more effectively?(Required)

Which type of support from SBSD would be most valuable to your organization? (Select all that apply)(Required)

Information about SBSD programs and services

SWaM/DBE certification information and assistance

VSBFA financing information and connections

Government contracting/procurement resources

Assistance with eVA information and training

Business counseling/technical assistance

Training and educational programming

Business referrals

Connections to other regional partners

Connections to lenders/funding sources

Connections to government agencies/buyers

Co-hosted events and workshops

Marketing/outreach support

Business data/research

Other

If you selected "Other," please specify:

What information do you wish you had from SBSD that would help you better serve your clients?(Required)

What SBSD programs, resources, or expertise would you like to better understand or incorporate into your organization's work?(Required)

Working Together

(Approx. 1-2 minutes to complete)

What opportunities do you envision for SBSD and your organization to collaborate?(Required)

What types of collaborative opportunities would be most valuable? (Select all that apply)(Required)

Co-hosted workshops and webinars

Joint conferences/events

Joint business outreach

Cross-referrals

Warm referrals

Shared marketing/communications

Partner training

Shared resource development

Regional business initiatives

Industry-specific initiatives

Sharing data/information

Joint identification of business needs/gaps

Other

If you selected "Other," please specify:

What could SBSD and your organization do together that neither organization could accomplish as effectively alone?(Required)

Strengthening the Partner Network

(Approx. 1-2 minutes to complete)

What would make it easier for organizations like ours to communicate and collaborate with one another?(Required)

How frequently would you find value in connecting with other small business support partners?(Required)

Monthly

Quarterly

Twice a year

Annually

As needed

What would be the most useful purpose of future partner meetings?(Required)

Share information about programs and services

Discuss emerging small business needs

Make referrals and connections

Identify gaps in services

Develop collaborative programs

Share best practices

Hear from small businesses directly

Coordinate regional events and outreach

Discuss funding opportunities

Discuss procurement opportunities

Other

If you selected "Other," please specify:

The Opportunity

(Approx. 2-3 minutes to complete)

If you could change one thing about the way small business support organizations work together in Southwest Virginia, what would it be?(Required)

What is one thing you think SBSD could do differently or better to support the small business ecosystem in Southwest Virginia?(Required)

What is one thing you think your organization could do to help strengthen the regional small business ecosystem?(Required)

Creating a Shared Vision

(Approx. 1-2 minutes to complete)

Please complete the following statement: "I wish SBSD could help my organization by..."(Required)

Please complete the following statement: "I wish other small business support organizations in Southwest Virginia would..."(Required)

Please complete the following statement: "A truly connected small business ecosystem in Southwest Virginia would..."(Required)

Final Thoughts

(Approx. 1-2 minutes to complete)

What have we not asked you that you think SBSD should understand as we continue to work together?(Required)

Southwest Virginia
Small Business Ecosystem
Partner Survey