Survey Results Show Businesses Want Amenities

Livermore, CA, September 8, 2008 - Business people in Livermore have an ambitious vision of the City's potential and an impressive appetite for new and enhanced amenities. So says a recent online survey sent out by the Livermore Chamber of Commerce.  The survey, which was sent out by email to some 900 chamber members it received a response of approximately 17 percent.

The survey listed nine possible amenities and asked members to rate them on how valuable they might be to individual members' businesses. The survey showed that business people feel bringing BART to Livermore is the most important project.  County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, who has worked hard to bring BART to Livermore, said, "Not surprisingly the Livermore community including its businesses has been unwavering in its support of the long-awaited earlier promised completion of the BART extension to Livermore.  I strongly encourage such advocacy which will become increasingly important as this project advances through the various study processes currently underway."

Closely following BART was the redevelopment of aging retail centers. City manager Linda Barton noted that this is also the top priority of the Livermore City Council and indicated that investments in these properties will make them future economic engines for the entire city. Also in the top three was the creation of a visitor's center to promote wineries, recreation and local businesses. Chris Chandler, Executive Director of the Winegrowers Association was thrilled to hear the response and said, "A regional visitor's center would serve as a gateway to Livermore Valley Wine Country and all its amenities and natural, cultural and historic attractions."  She added that, " I 580 is a major corridor between the Bay Area and Sacramento, the Central Valley and the Sierra Foothills and an ideal location to welcome visitors and provide information, schedules of events and even event ticket sales."

All of the projects listed in the survey received more than 50 percent support from those responding.

They showed strong support for:

• Promoting the existing film commission to generate income for local businesses
• Advocating for water for vineyards and other agriculture in North Livermore. This amenity tied with a new State-of-the-Art sports park
• A full service boutique hotel to be located in our downtown
• A large business park for the city
• The proposed 2,000 seat regional performing arts theater

Utilizing the online survey format, the Chamber of Commerce will periodically survey its members and encourage those receiving them to take a few minutes to provide feedback on local issues. These surveys are designed to assist the Chamber and its Board of Directors in prioritizing issues to best enhance the quality of life in Livermore.