Citizens can voice business preferences

Citizens will have an opportunity to possibly select future business in Lake Havasu City this month.

Residents will receive a Retail Recruitment Survey, organized by the Partnership for Economic Development, in this month’s water bills. Depending on the response rate from the estimated 26,000 forms that will see circulation, national retailers could select Lake Havasu as their next destination.

“We’ve heard several companies say they are right on that margin of coming here, but they don’t know how many people are interested,” PED President/CEO Gary Kellogg said. “We’ve developed a format where our citizens will be able to check off what businesses they would like to see in the area and we’ll be able to tell businesses exactly how many people would go there.”

Kellogg said the survey response must be of an adequate size for retailers to consider building a location in the city.

“In order for this thing to have any teeth, we’re going to need to see some large numbers,” he said. “A few hundred won’t do it but thousands will impress.”

Most of the 14 restaurants, eight large retail stores and 35 smaller retail locations have approached the PED at one time in Havasu, Kellogg said, adding that site selectors are constantly interested in the city and its population.

“Site selectors need to be able to have an idea of how much money their going to make if they come here,” Kellogg said. “The size of Lake Havasu is something they notice but they need people to say they would support their stores if they came in here.”

In addition to the survey handed out through city water bills, Kellogg said surveys will be available at City Hall, 2330 McCulloch Blvd., and other locations to be announced within the next week or two. The information will then be compiled and announced in February.

“We’re hoping a lot of people respond so we can clearly say how many are interested in what stores,” Kellogg said. “It’s going to go a long way to bringing business here.”

You can contact the reporter at nbruttell@havasunews.com