Click this link to optimize Open Town Hall for screen readers Skip to Content
Open Town Hall
Opengov
Jobs & Economic Development

We want to hear from you about your priorities for economic development and what you think the City of Sandpoint should focus on in order to grow a more diverse, healthy, and vibrant economy. Your response to the survey will inform the priorities set forth in the Comprehensive Plan Update.

This topic is closed

68 registered responses


Looking out 20 years, what does a healthy and vibrant economy in Sandpoint look like to you? Be specific.

Answered
58
Skipped
10

Through initial outreach during the Fall, we asked the community to start thinking about what they love about Sandpoint and to reflect on the values articulated in the existing 2009 Comprehensive Plan. Of the following, what are the top 3 that are most important for you?

Response Percent Response Count
Educate and train our workforce 41.2% 28
Attract quality, high-paying jobs 42.6% 29
Leverage Sandpoint’s quality-of-life amenities to attract and retain businesses 32.4% 22
Embrace innovation and technology 27.9% 19
Attract businesses that bring value-added goods and services 14.7% 10
Support new businesses and local entrepreneurs 29.4% 20
Encourage companies to provide year-round employment 13.2% 9
Capitalize on the Sandpoint Airport as a major economic driver 10.3% 7
Upgrade and expand tech infrastructure such as high speed internet 14.7% 10
Expand tourism-related industries 4.4% 3
Support Downtown and preserve the small town feel 32.4% 22
Maintain the diversity and quality of shops, restaurants, and services 20.6% 14
Other 10.3% 7

What should Sandpoint be doing to help support these shared values?

Answered
53
Skipped
15

Economic Diversity Goal: Create a vibrant and diverse economy in Sandpoint. Please rate the importance of each of the following policies. (1=not important, 5=very important)?

Support existing manufacturing businesses as providers of jobs with living wage and benefits.
Response Percent Response Count
3 4.4% 3
4 27.9% 19
5 66.2% 45
Encourage localism and innovative techniques to increase circulating dollars within the Sandpoint economy.
Response Percent Response Count
1 1.5% 1
2 4.4% 3
3 11.8% 8
4 23.5% 16
5 54.4% 37
No Opinion 4.4% 3
Attract industries that provide jobs for graduates of higher educational programs and vocational-technical schools.
Response Percent Response Count
2 5.9% 4
3 11.8% 8
4 23.5% 16
5 58.8% 40
Encourage the development of clean technologies.
Response Percent Response Count
1 8.8% 6
2 5.9% 4
3 16.2% 11
4 17.6% 12
5 51.5% 35
Encourage arts and environmental related employment.
Response Percent Response Count
1 11.8% 8
2 13.2% 9
3 17.6% 12
4 20.6% 14
5 33.8% 23
No Opinion 2.9% 2

Please comment about the economic diversity goal and policies. Are there any policies that you feel are missing from the list above?

Answered
30
Skipped
38

Neighboring Communities Goal: Join with neighboring communities to strengthen the regional economy. Please rate the importance of each of the following policies. (1=not important, 5=very important)?

Be an active partner with local economic development agencies.
Response Percent Response Count
1 1.5% 1
2 2.9% 2
3 16.2% 11
4 32.4% 22
5 42.6% 29
No Opinion 4.4% 3
Improve transportation corridors to facilitate movement of goods into, out of, and through the region.
Response Percent Response Count
1 5.9% 4
2 10.3% 7
3 20.6% 14
4 23.5% 16
5 38.2% 26
No Opinion 1.5% 1
Improve transportation facilities and services to facilitate movement of people through the region.
Response Percent Response Count
1 4.4% 3
2 5.9% 4
3 20.6% 14
4 26.5% 18
5 39.7% 27
No Opinion 2.9% 2
Coordinate land use decisions with surrounding communities to limit commuting distance and redundant infrastructure.
Response Percent Response Count
1 4.4% 3
2 2.9% 2
3 10.3% 7
4 33.8% 23
5 47.1% 32
No Opinion 1.5% 1

Please comment about the neighboring communities goal and policies. Are there any policies that you feel are missing from the list above?

Answered
31
Skipped
37

Workforce Needs Goal: Provide Sandpoint workers with affordable housing options near jobs, public transportation, and non-motorized transportation options. Please rate the importance of each of the following policies. (1=not important, 5=very important)?

Encourage diversity of housing types as appropriate in land use districts.
Response Percent Response Count
1 5.9% 4
2 1.5% 1
3 4.4% 3
4 23.5% 16
5 63.2% 43
No Opinion 1.5% 1
Help reduce household transportation costs by allowing housing near jobs.
Response Percent Response Count
1 7.4% 5
2 4.4% 3
3 23.5% 16
4 20.6% 14
5 39.7% 27
No Opinion 4.4% 3
Facilitate public transportation and/or non-motorized transportation connections between jobs and neighborhoods.
Response Percent Response Count
1 5.9% 4
2 5.9% 4
3 14.7% 10
4 22.1% 15
5 50.0% 34
No Opinion 1.5% 1
Promote opportunities that employ Sandpoint residents in Sandpoint.
Response Percent Response Count
2 5.9% 4
3 8.8% 6
4 13.2% 9
5 70.6% 48
No Opinion 1.5% 1

Please comment about the workforce needs goal and policies. Are there any policies that you feel are missing from the list above?

Answered
30
Skipped
38

Downtown Revitalization: Support downtown Sandpoint’s historic role as a major economic, social, and civic center of Bonner County. (1=not important, 5=very important)?

Focus economic development resources primarily on priority projects. Focus on solving specific problems.
Response Percent Response Count
1 7.4% 5
3 20.6% 14
4 27.9% 19
5 26.5% 18
No Opinion 13.2% 9
Encourage residential uses on the second story and above.
Response Percent Response Count
1 7.4% 5
2 7.4% 5
3 14.7% 10
4 19.1% 13
5 45.6% 31
No Opinion 4.4% 3
Collaborate with local business organizations and assist in providing the infrastructure to attract new economically diverse business in the Downtown.
Response Percent Response Count
1 4.4% 3
3 11.8% 8
4 38.2% 26
5 36.8% 25
No Opinion 4.4% 3
Create a streetscape that encourages an active street life.
Response Percent Response Count
1 8.8% 6
2 5.9% 4
3 20.6% 14
4 27.9% 19
5 33.8% 23
No Opinion 1.5% 1
Make downtown a primary multimodal friendly destination.
Response Percent Response Count
1 8.8% 6
2 5.9% 4
3 17.6% 12
4 20.6% 14
5 39.7% 27
No Opinion 5.9% 4
Regularly update the Downtown Revitalization Plan.
Response Percent Response Count
1 8.8% 6
2 10.3% 7
3 23.5% 16
4 25.0% 17
5 26.5% 18
No Opinion 4.4% 3
Encourage preservation of historic buildings.
Response Percent Response Count
1 5.9% 4
2 2.9% 2
3 19.1% 13
4 26.5% 18
5 44.1% 30
No Opinion 1.5% 1
Retain high traffic downtown anchors.
Response Percent Response Count
1 5.9% 4
2 2.9% 2
3 14.7% 10
4 30.9% 21
5 29.4% 20
No Opinion 11.8% 8
Encourage first floor restaurants and diverse retail utilization.
Response Percent Response Count
1 7.4% 5
2 1.5% 1
3 10.3% 7
4 30.9% 21
5 41.2% 28
No Opinion 7.4% 5

Please comment about the downtown revitalization goal and policies. Are there any policies that you feel are missing from the list above?

Answered
34
Skipped
34

What is your current employment status?

Response Percent Response Count
Employed in my occupation/profession 69.1% 47
Employed but not in my occupation/profession 5.9% 4
Unemployed but looking for a job 1.5% 1
Retired 16.2% 11
Volunteer 1.5% 1
Other 5.9% 4

What is your occupation/profession?

Answered
55
Skipped
13

Where do you work?

Response Percent Response Count
Sandpoint 62.5% 35
Ponderay 5.4% 3
Dover 1.8% 1
Sagle 1.8% 1
Bonner County (excluding choices above) 1.8% 1
Outside Bonner County 16.1% 9
I work from home 10.7% 6

On a normal day, how long is your morning commute to work?

Response Percent Response Count
Less than 15 minutes 57.1% 32
15-30 minutes 21.4% 12
31-45 minutes 1.8% 1
46 to 60 minutes 7.1% 4
I work from home 10.7% 6
Other 1.8% 1

Do you commute into or out of Sandpoint?

Response Percent Response Count
I commute into Sandpoint for work or school. 26.8% 15
I commute out of Sandpoint to work or school. 14.3% 8
I live and work in Sandpoint city limits. 46.4% 26
Other 12.5% 7

If you commute from outside of Sandpoint to work or school what is the reason (choose all that apply):

Response Percent Response Count
Lack of affordable housing in Sandpoint 10.5% 2
Lack of housing options in Sandpoint (regardless of affordability) 26.3% 5
Other 68.4% 13

If you live in Sandpoint and commute to a job outside of Sandpoint, please tell us why.

Answered
11
Skipped
57

What are the most important economic development priorities (check all that apply):

Response Percent Response Count
Workforce training and education 54.4% 37
Affordable housing 66.2% 45
Housing options (regardless of affordability) 33.8% 23
Expanding employment opportunities 47.1% 32
Liveable wages 63.2% 43
Diversification of the economy 41.2% 28
Recruiting new business and industry 45.6% 31
Retaining existing business and industry 54.4% 37
Transportation options 22.1% 15
Supporting a year-round economy 50.0% 34
Other 4.4% 3

What industries should be the top economic development priority (choose up to three):

Response Percent Response Count
Recreation & tourism 38.2% 26
STEM 52.9% 36
Manufacturing 44.1% 30
Construction 17.6% 12
Aerospace 30.9% 21
Other 22.1% 15
Jeremy Smith inside the County of Bonner
January 4, 2020, 10:42 PM
  • Looking out 20 years, what does a healthy and vibrant economy in Sandpoint look like to you? Be specific.

    I hope to see opportunity for all ages of adult to make a living. I hope to see the next generation of job style, like remote work and emerging career types, fully supported and encouraged. I think we could use more co-working spaces. Incentives and benefits for individuals like myself who write for a living, needing no set workspace. We should look forward to new ways of working and not wistfully at a lost lumber industry.

  • Through initial outreach during the Fall, we asked the community to start thinking about what they love about Sandpoint and to reflect on the values articulated in the existing 2009 Comprehensive Plan. Of the following, what are the top 3 that are most important for you?
    • Leverage Sandpoint’s quality-of-life amenities to attract and retain businesses
    • Embrace innovation and technology
    • Upgrade and expand tech infrastructure such as high speed internet
  • What should Sandpoint be doing to help support these shared values?

    Sandpoint is located in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. First and foremost, we look to enhance and work with that natural beauty. Secondly, we should aggressively implement technology that allows us all of the same benefits of living in a large city - internet, diverse foods, fresh produce, social opportunities.

  • Economic Diversity Goal: Create a vibrant and diverse economy in Sandpoint. Please rate the importance of each of the following policies. (1=not important, 5=very important)?
    • Support existing manufacturing businesses as providers of jobs with living wage and benefits. - 3
    • Encourage localism and innovative techniques to increase circulating dollars within the Sandpoint economy. - 5
    • Attract industries that provide jobs for graduates of higher educational programs and vocational-technical schools. - 4
    • Encourage the development of clean technologies. - 5
    • Encourage arts and environmental related employment. - 5
  • Please comment about the economic diversity goal and policies. Are there any policies that you feel are missing from the list above?

    I see a future in Sandpoint where art and literature are supported in a way that most places cannot. Attract creatives and intellectuals, and we will be able to solve the rest of our problems as they come. Sandpoint is not in the right location to support manufacturing of heavy, low-cost parts. Aerospace and tech are a much better direction. Let China make the cheap cookie-cutter stuff.

  • Neighboring Communities Goal: Join with neighboring communities to strengthen the regional economy. Please rate the importance of each of the following policies. (1=not important, 5=very important)?
    • Be an active partner with local economic development agencies. - 5
    • Improve transportation corridors to facilitate movement of goods into, out of, and through the region. - 3
    • Improve transportation facilities and services to facilitate movement of people through the region. - 5
    • Coordinate land use decisions with surrounding communities to limit commuting distance and redundant infrastructure. - 4
  • Please comment about the neighboring communities goal and policies. Are there any policies that you feel are missing from the list above?

    Reach out to surrounding communities and work toward common goals. Develop signature design aspects (like the blue accent lighting I see) and help propagate that look in the surrounding area for a unified theme. Travelers should know when they are near Sandpoint, and be glad they are there.

  • Workforce Needs Goal: Provide Sandpoint workers with affordable housing options near jobs, public transportation, and non-motorized transportation options. Please rate the importance of each of the following policies. (1=not important, 5=very important)?
    • Encourage diversity of housing types as appropriate in land use districts. - 4
    • Help reduce household transportation costs by allowing housing near jobs. - 4
    • Facilitate public transportation and/or non-motorized transportation connections between jobs and neighborhoods. - 2
    • Promote opportunities that employ Sandpoint residents in Sandpoint. - 5
  • Please comment about the workforce needs goal and policies. Are there any policies that you feel are missing from the list above?

    Local opportunities are a great idea. Walking in a town like Sandpoint is a six-moth per year proposition. Don't forget about the cars. They have heated seats, and that is a big deal in winter.

  • Downtown Revitalization: Support downtown Sandpoint’s historic role as a major economic, social, and civic center of Bonner County. (1=not important, 5=very important)?
    • Focus economic development resources primarily on priority projects. Focus on solving specific problems. - 4
    • Encourage residential uses on the second story and above. - 5
    • Collaborate with local business organizations and assist in providing the infrastructure to attract new economically diverse business in the Downtown. - 5
    • Create a streetscape that encourages an active street life. - 5
    • Make downtown a primary multimodal friendly destination. - 5
    • Regularly update the Downtown Revitalization Plan. - 5
    • Encourage preservation of historic buildings. - 5
    • Retain high traffic downtown anchors. - 2
    • Encourage first floor restaurants and diverse retail utilization. - 5
  • Please comment about the downtown revitalization goal and policies. Are there any policies that you feel are missing from the list above?

    I feel that our downtown area is best served as a center for arts and culture with diverse retail, plentiful food and drink venues, and live entertainment. It is not the right place to force a micro Trader Joes or other anchor-type store to exist. Local-owned, local-operated businesses do best here.

  • What is your current employment status?
    • Employed in my occupation/profession
  • What is your occupation/profession?
    Writer of novels and articles
  • Where do you work?
    • I work from home
  • On a normal day, how long is your morning commute to work?
    • I work from home
  • Do you commute into or out of Sandpoint?
    • Other - I work from time to time at local restaurants and coffee shops, the library or the beach. The look and feel of Sandpoint is directly helpful to my creative work.
  • If you commute from outside of Sandpoint to work or school what is the reason (choose all that apply):
    • Other - We are fortunate and live on 20 acres on Bottle Bay. Sandpoint is our local town.
  • If you live in Sandpoint and commute to a job outside of Sandpoint, please tell us why.

    NA

  • What are the most important economic development priorities (check all that apply):
    • Workforce training and education
    • Affordable housing
    • Liveable wages
    • Diversification of the economy
    • Recruiting new business and industry
    • Other - Focus on supporting creative, self-employed individuals
  • What industries should be the top economic development priority (choose up to three):
    • Recreation & tourism
    • STEM
    • Aerospace
  • Please indicate your level of agreement with each statement below (with 1 being not satisfied and 5 being very satisfied):
    • Sandpoint offers many great eating, drinking, and entertainment venues. - 4
    • Sandpoint offers high-quality public spaces such as parks, plazas, and walkable shopping streets - 4
    • Sandpoint offers high quality job opportunities in my occupation/profession. - 3
    • Sandpoint is a great environment for small business. - 3
    • Sandpoint offers adequate support and services for entrepreneurs and small business owners to startup and expand. - 3
    • I have access to great education and job training opportunities nearby. - 2
    • Housing in Sandpoint is affordable to people and families with a range of different incomes. - 2
    • Existing transportation options in Sandpoint make it easy for me to get to work. - 4
  • Of the needs identified in the previous question we want to know which are the most important to you. Please select how important each action is for you (with 1 being not important and 5 being very important).
    • Increase the number of great eating, drinking, and entertainment places in Sandpoint - 4
    • Increase the number of high-quality public spaces, such as parks, plazas, or walkable shopping streets. - 5
    • Make it easier to find high quality job opportunities in my occupation/profession in Sandpoint. - 4
    • Improve opportunities for small businesses in Sandpoint - 4
    • Increase efforts to prevent displacement of small businesses in Sandpoint - 3
    • Offer more services for entrepreneurs and small business owners to get established or expand in Sandpoint - 5
    • Increase the education and job training opportunities in Sandpoint - 3
    • Increase the diversity and affordability of housing options in Sandpoint - 4
  • What types of products and services would you like to have available in Sandpoint?
    • Maintain public dock space, look to expand public day berths in the future. I have missed out on boat parking on busy days.
    • 5G and high-speed internet wifi for the public
    • encourage groups like the Idaho Writer's League and Sandpoint Literary collective to support different creative lifestyles
    • Public charging stations at picnic tables etc at City Beach and other parks
  • Where do you primarily shop?
    • Autos and automotive parts - Sandpoint
    • Clothing - Outside Bonner County
    • Food/beverage stores - Other in Bonner County
    • Garden and Nursery - Other in Bonner County
    • Grocery - Other in Bonner County
    • Home Improvement - Other in Bonner County
    • Furniture and Appliances - Outside Bonner County
    • Pharmacy - Sandpoint
    • Electronics - Online
    • Jewelry - Other in Bonner County
    • Sporting Goods - Sandpoint
    • Books - Sandpoint
    • Other - Online
  • Where do you go to get the following services?
    • Automotive Repair - Other in Bonner County
    • Banking/Financial services - Other in Bonner County
    • Business services - Sandpoint
    • Childcare - Other in Bonner County
    • Dry Cleaner/tailor - Sandpoint
    • Legal - Sandpoint
    • Medical - Sandpoint
    • Dental - Sandpoint
    • Restaurants - Sandpoint
    • Coffee/tea shops - Sandpoint
    • Personal - Other in Bonner County
    • Other - Outside Bonner County
  • What are the biggest deterrents to shopping locally in Sandpoint for goods or services (choose as many as apply)?
    • Not available
  • What would incentivize you to shop locally?

    More diversity of stores. Better marketing (digital mainly)

  • Is there any feedback you would like to share regarding economic development within the City of Sandpoint?

    Sandpoint has changed a lot in the 13 years I've lived here. With the rise of Ponderay as big-box central, Sandpoint is becoming the upscale botique area. We need to look at the next phase as well, as Amazon continues to gobble up market share. Creatives thrive in a place like this. We need to encourage and facilitate them.

  • Do you own a business in Sandpoint city limits? (pick one)?
    • I own a business in Bonner County but outside of Sandpoint city limits.
  • If you own a business, how many employees does your business employ, excluding yourself?
    0
  • If you own a business, which of the following best describes your business?
    • Other - Snowplow business, seasonal
  • If you own or have owned a business in Sandpoint, please choose your level of agreement with the following statements (with 1 being strongly disagree and 5 being strongly agree).
    • Sandpoint is a good place to locate and manage a business. - Not Applicable
    • Sandpoint is business friendly. - Not Applicable
    • It is easy to attract skilled workers to Sandpoint. - Not Applicable
    • It is easy to retain skilled workers in Sandpoint. - Not Applicable
    • Sandpoint is a good place to establish and maintain a retail business. - Not Applicable
    • Sandpoint is a good place to establish and maintain a professional service-oriented business. - Not Applicable
    • Sandpoint is a good place to establish and maintain a manufacturing business. - Not Applicable
    • Sandpoint is a good place to establish and maintain a construction business. - Not Applicable
    • There are plenty of affordable, quality housing options for my employees. - Not Applicable
  • How can the City support local business owners?
    No response.
  • Using the numbered areas in the map above, identify where you live in Sandpoint. If you do not live in the Sandpoint city limits, please select the city or area in which you live:
    • Sagle
  • Tell us a little about your relationship with the City of Sandpoint. Check all that apply:
    • I work in Sandpoint
    • I often visit Sandpoint
    • I have a business interest or am looking to do business in Sandpoint
    • Other - Sandpoint is our nearest town, and where I identify as 'from' now. My children will go to SMS and SHS.
  • What is your age?
    • 40-49
  • What is your annual household income?
    • $75,000 - $99,999
  • How many children under the age of 18 live at home?
    2
Open Town Hall is not a certified voting system or ballot box. As with any public comment process, participation in Open Town Hall is voluntary. The responses in this record are not necessarily representative of the whole population, nor do they reflect the opinions of any government agency or elected officials.

Your answers will NOT be saved

This is the form that was used to collect responses. It's here so you can try it and see how it worked when the topic was open.

The topic is now closed, and anything you enter into this form will not be saved.

Sign in and be yourself

Sign in and let others know who you are and what you think. You can sign in now or after you submit your response. You'll be able to read your response on this website and change it if you change your mind.

Read more about privacy >

Sign in and be someone

Sign in and let others know what you think. Only OpenGov will know who you are. You can sign in now or after you submit your response. You'll be able to read your response on this website and change it if you change your mind.

Read more about privacy >
* required

Be anonymous

Even though your response will be shared with staff, it won’t be shown on this public website so other community members won’t have the opportunity to see it.

Concerned about sharing your contact information with OpenGov?

Read more about privacy >

Read more about privacy >

What are my options to participate?

Open Town Hall has two participation channels:

  • The Registered Channel: Sign in before or just after you submit your response. Either way, Community Feedback will show your response on this website.
  • The Unregistered Channel: Don't sign in and remain anonymous. Community Feedback will just share your response with Sandpoint staff.

Note: The first time you sign in, you'll need to register (establish an account on Open Town Hall). Registration is free.

Why do I need to sign in to show my response on this website?

The City of Sandpoint has contracted with Community Feedback to monitor responses shown on this website.

  • To prevent any single user from dominating the forum, the City of Sandpoint restricts the number of responses any one user can post on selected topics. Registration helps Community Feedback enforce this restriction.
  • Users, staff and government leaders often want to know the neighborhood from which a response is posted. Community Feedback uses registration to show the neighborhood next to each response (not the address).
  • If a user posts a response that does not meet the City of Sandpoint guidelines for civility, Community Feedback uses the user's email address to invite the user to resolve the issue.
I'm concerned about privacy. Who will get my contact information and what will they use it for?

Community Feedback will get your contact information. The company is under contract with the City of Sandpoint to hold it in strict confidence per their privacy policy.

What other benefits do I get from signing in?
  • Since you'll see your own response on Open Town Hall, you'll be able to confirm that your response was posted as you intended.
  • You'll be able to change and/or delete your response as long as the topic is open.
I'm still very concerned about privacy. Is there a way for me to submit a response without registering?

Yes. Sign out, then set your privacy preference to be "No - just show it without my name to staff". You won't need to register.

What prevents an unregistered user from submitting multiple anonymous responses?

While no authentication procedure can perfectly detect every fraudulent registration, Community Feedback is able to secure the registered channel against systematic fraud: cases where users submit enough statements with fraudulent registrations to sway the overall interpretation of the feedback.

Community Feedback is unable to secure the unregistered channel against systematic fraud, because unregistered users are anonymous.

Neither the registered nor the unregistered channel represent a certified voting system or ballot box - and that caveat is footnoted on every page of feedback. Instead, both are additional channels for feedback to government.

Why are there two participation channels?

Users can participate on the registered channel (by signing in) or on the unregistered channel (by remaining anonymous). The City of Sandpoint offers both channels in order to broaden participation and maximize decision makers' insights.

The registered channel enables users to assure decision makers that their feedback comes from a real person in a specific neighborhood. It also enables users to participate in a public discussion on the website, as well as manage their own response after posting it.

The unregistered channel is for users who want to provide quick feedback without registering, and/or whose privacy concerns would prevent them from participating if required to register. Because many users with valuable insights will only share them anonymously, this channel gives decision makers the option to consider those insights in their deliberations.

What is OpenGov?

OpenGov is a non-partisan company whose mission is to broaden civic engagement and build public trust in government. The City of Sandpoint has contracted with OpenGov to administer Open Town Hall.

Part 1:  Vision

What is your vision for the future of Jobs and Economic Development in Sandpoint?

Choose at most 3 options

Part 2:  Goals and Policies

As the City works to update its comprehensive plan, we would like to know how our residents value the goals and policies established in the 2009 Comprehensive Plan. 

A goal provides the community with direction. A goal is a desired ideal and a value to be sought.

A policy is a statement of principle or a course of action that guides governmental action and decision making.

In the following section, please rate how important the following goals and policies are to you.

1
2
3
4
5
No Opinion
Support existing manufacturing businesses as providers of jobs with living wage and benefits.
Encourage localism and innovative techniques to increase circulating dollars within the Sandpoint economy.
Attract industries that provide jobs for graduates of higher educational programs and vocational-technical schools.
Encourage the development of clean technologies.
Encourage arts and environmental related employment.
1
2
3
4
5
No Opinion
Be an active partner with local economic development agencies.
Improve transportation corridors to facilitate movement of goods into, out of, and through the region.
Improve transportation facilities and services to facilitate movement of people through the region.
Coordinate land use decisions with surrounding communities to limit commuting distance and redundant infrastructure.
1
2
3
4
5
No Opinion
Encourage diversity of housing types as appropriate in land use districts.
Help reduce household transportation costs by allowing housing near jobs.
Facilitate public transportation and/or non-motorized transportation connections between jobs and neighborhoods.
Promote opportunities that employ Sandpoint residents in Sandpoint.
1
2
3
4
5
No Opinion
Focus economic development resources primarily on priority projects. Focus on solving specific problems.
Encourage residential uses on the second story and above.
Collaborate with local business organizations and assist in providing the infrastructure to attract new economically diverse business in the Downtown.
Create a streetscape that encourages an active street life.
Make downtown a primary multimodal friendly destination.
Regularly update the Downtown Revitalization Plan.
Encourage preservation of historic buildings.
Retain high traffic downtown anchors.
Encourage first floor restaurants and diverse retail utilization.

Part 3

The following questions will help us understand your needs in the areas of employment, education, transportation, and housing are met in Sandpoint. 

If not employed, skip to section 4.

Part 4

Economic development priorities

Choose at most 3 options
1
2
3
4
5
Not applicable
Sandpoint offers many great eating, drinking, and entertainment venues.
Sandpoint offers high-quality public spaces such as parks, plazas, and walkable shopping streets
Sandpoint offers high quality job opportunities in my occupation/profession.
Sandpoint is a great environment for small business.
Sandpoint offers adequate support and services for entrepreneurs and small business owners to startup and expand.
I have access to great education and job training opportunities nearby.
Housing in Sandpoint is affordable to people and families with a range of different incomes.
Existing transportation options in Sandpoint make it easy for me to get to work.
1
2
3
4
5
No opinion
Increase the number of great eating, drinking, and entertainment places in Sandpoint
Increase the number of high-quality public spaces, such as parks, plazas, or walkable shopping streets.
Make it easier to find high quality job opportunities in my occupation/profession in Sandpoint.
Improve opportunities for small businesses in Sandpoint
Increase efforts to prevent displacement of small businesses in Sandpoint
Offer more services for entrepreneurs and small business owners to get established or expand in Sandpoint
Increase the education and job training opportunities in Sandpoint
Increase the diversity and affordability of housing options in Sandpoint
Sandpoint
Other in Bonner County
Outside Bonner County
Online
Not applicable
Autos and automotive parts
Clothing
Food/beverage stores
Garden and Nursery
Grocery
Home Improvement
Furniture and Appliances
Pharmacy
Electronics
Jewelry
Sporting Goods
Books
Other
Sandpoint
Other in Bonner County
Outside Bonner County
Not applicable
Automotive Repair
Banking/Financial services
Business services
Childcare
Dry Cleaner/tailor
Legal
Medical
Dental
Restaurants
Coffee/tea shops
Personal
Other

Part 5

This section is for business owners to provide information about the ability to conduct business in Sandpoint.

1
2
3
4
5
Not Applicable
Sandpoint is a good place to locate and manage a business.
Sandpoint is business friendly.
It is easy to attract skilled workers to Sandpoint.
It is easy to retain skilled workers in Sandpoint.
Sandpoint is a good place to establish and maintain a retail business.
Sandpoint is a good place to establish and maintain a professional service-oriented business.
Sandpoint is a good place to establish and maintain a manufacturing business.
Sandpoint is a good place to establish and maintain a construction business.
There are plenty of affordable, quality housing options for my employees.

Part 6

Demographics

* required
Check out our guidelines for civility

Fields marked with * are required

Back to Intro