Survey Says: Strongsville Businesses are Happy Here

More than 97 percent of companies surveyed rated the city as a "good" or "excellent" place to do business, and a full 100 percent said they would recommend Strongsville to another firm looking to relocate.

The companies also said Strongsville has good schools, health care services, shopping, police protection and restaurants.

Ratings were a little lower for cultural activities and conference facilities.

The city sent the surveys to 151 companies in its industrial parks and received responses from 37, including manufacturing firms, warehouses, offices, and construction, technology and trucking businesses.

Economic Development Director Brent Painter said the responses give the city a feel for what its businesses need, which translates into keeping existing firms happy and helping bring new companies in.

Some of the findings:

• Companies gave the city good ratings on plan approval process. "The city is A+ in developing and helping new and existing businesses," one firm said.

• The top three reasons for locating in Strongsville were proximity to freeways, proximity to home and access to customers.

• Among things that need improvement, lower taxes and less road congestion, especially to freeways, were frequent themes. "Takes longer to get to 71 than it does to drive to the airport," one respondent said.

• About 67 percent of the employers rated the local labor force "good;" 21 percent said "average."

• Seven of the companies plan to open another facility; three will locate elsewhere in Strongsville; four outside Ohio; and one outside the United States.

A few other comments and suggestions:

"We were broken into. Let's keep the riff raff out."

"Paved parking lots in the soccer and baseball fields; currently all gravel and dirt. It's a positive reflection in how we are perceived by other cities."

"Doing excellent job."

"Mayor Perciak has got a plan to remain business friendly. Keep that up."

"Brunswick has a significantly lower overall tax burden and frankly has significantly closed the gap in the overall quality of amenities between the two locations."

"Economic Development Department does a great job."

"We have watched the city change over the past 30 years we have lived here. It's amazing to see how our city grow into such an outstanding community. A great place to live and work."

The city did similar surveys in 2003 and in 2006/2007.