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Heart of Biddeford Business Priorities Survey

Heart of Biddeford is facing a reduction in city funding and needs to make some real choices about where to focus our resources. Before we decide anything, we want to hear from you. Please reply by May 22, 2026. Your answers are anonymous.

This survey is specifically for downtown business owners and takes about 3-4 minutes. It focuses on the programs we offer that directly serve businesses.

Complete it for a chance to win a $100 downtown Biddeford gift card.

1. Awareness Check. Which of these HOB business-related programs did you already know about?

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1. Awareness Check. Which of these HOB business-related programs did you already know about?

The big-picture work — the events, tourism, arts programming, volunteer programs, and storytelling that draw people to Biddeford and build momentum for people to spend their time and money downtown

Weekly business newsletter — includes grant opportunities, HOB event opportunities, and downtown news.

Wayfinding – Downtown maps, kiosks, Open Flags, HOB website business directory, 2x/weekly newsletters to the community about downtown events, job listings, and business promotions to build awareness of downtown businesses.

BiddeBucks and Brightr Passport events — foot-traffic-driving passport events such as the Holiday Stroll and Restaurant Week, along with cash prizes and cash incentives for participants

Holiday lighting coordination — HOB invests roughly $10,000 in staff and volunteer time each year to install, maintain, and store the lights that brighten the downtown all winter

City Liaison & Business Advocacy — amplifying city announcements that affect businesses, guiding business owners/entrepreneurs to appropriate city offices, and advocating to the city on issues like permitting, vacancy, the unhoused population, and public space use.

Hand-delivered outreach — HOB staff and volunteers walk through the downtown to bring flyers, opportunities, and information directly to your door since emails and social media can be hard to sift through.

Business Enhancement Committee and Trainings— a monthly meeting open to all downtown business owners to develop programs and advocate collectively, as well as offer trainings for businesses on topics such as “AI” and Design Thinking.

2. Overall Value. How important do you find HOB's work to your business specifically?

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2. Overall Value. How important do you find HOB's work to your business specifically?

A

Essential: HOB plays a key role in supporting my business and the downtown ecosystem it depends on

B

Very important: HOB’s work has a noticeable positive impact on my business

C

Somewhat important: I’m aware of and appreciate HOB’s work, though its impact on my business feels limited

D

Not very important: I haven’t personally experienced much direct impact on my business from HOB’s work

E

I don’t know enough about HOB’s work to say

3. Which 3 of these are MOST important to you as a business owner?

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3. Which 3 of these are MOST important to you as a business owner?

The big-picture work — the events, tourism, arts programming, volunteer programs, and storytelling that draw people to Biddeford and build momentum for people to spend their time and money downtown

Weekly business newsletter — includes grant opportunities, HOB event opportunities, and downtown news.

Wayfinding – Downtown maps, kiosks, Open Flags, HOB website business directory, 2x/weekly newsletters to the community about downtown events, job listings, and business promotions to build awareness of downtown businesses.

BiddeBucks and Brightr Passport events — foot-traffic-driving passport events such as the Holiday Stroll and Restaurant Week, along with cash prizes and cash incentives for participants

Holiday lighting coordination — HOB invests roughly $10,000 in staff and volunteer time each year to install, maintain, and store the lights that brighten the downtown all winter

City Liaison & Business Advocacy — amplifying city announcements that affect businesses, guiding business owners/entrepreneurs to appropriate city offices, and advocating to the city on issues like permitting, vacancy, the unhoused population, and public space use.

Hand-delivered outreach — HOB staff and volunteers walk through the downtown to bring flyers, opportunities, and information directly to your door since emails and social media can be hard to sift through.

Business Enhancement Committee and Trainings— a monthly meeting open to all downtown business owners to develop programs and advocate collectively, as well as offer trainings for businesses on topics such as “AI” and Design Thinking.

4. If HOB had to reduce programs or services due to budget constraints, which 3 would you consider the lowest priority to maintain?

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4. If HOB had to reduce programs or services due to budget constraints, which 3 would you consider the lowest priority to maintain?

The big-picture work — the events, tourism, arts programming, volunteer programs, and storytelling that draw people to Biddeford and build momentum for people to spend their time and money downtown

Weekly business newsletter — includes grant opportunities, HOB event opportunities, and downtown news.

Wayfinding – Downtown maps, kiosks, Open Flags, HOB website business directory, 2x/weekly newsletters to the community about downtown events, job listings, and business promotions to build awareness of downtown businesses.

BiddeBucks and Brightr Passport events — foot-traffic-driving passport events such as the Holiday Stroll and Restaurant Week, along with cash prizes and cash incentives for participants

Holiday lighting coordination — HOB invests roughly $10,000 in staff and volunteer time each year to install, maintain, and store the lights that brighten the downtown all winter

City Liaison & Business Advocacy — amplifying city announcements that affect businesses, guiding business owners/entrepreneurs to appropriate city offices, and advocating to the city on issues like permitting, vacancy, the unhoused population, and public space use.

Hand-delivered outreach — HOB staff and volunteers walk through the downtown to bring flyers, opportunities, and information directly to your door since emails and social media can be hard to sift through.

Business Enhancement Committee and Trainings— a monthly meeting open to all downtown business owners to develop programs and advocate collectively, as well as offer trainings for businesses on topics such as “AI” and Design Thinking.

5. Is there something HOB does for businesses that you'd really hate to lose? Or, something we don't do that you wish we would?

6. HOB is a nonprofit. The City of Biddeford funds about 1/3 of our budget. Grants, sponsorships, individual and business donations, and event revenue cover the rest. Downtown Businesses contribute about 2% of our budget. Which of these best describes your situation?

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6. HOB is a nonprofit. The City of Biddeford funds about 1/3 of our budget. Grants, sponsorships, individual and business donations, and event revenue cover the rest. Downtown Businesses contribute about 2% of our budget. Which of these best describes your situation?

A

I support HOB financially, through volunteering, and/or through in-kind contributions

B

I would consider supporting HOB in some way

C

I would consider volunteering or in-kind support, but financial contributions are difficult right now

D

I am not currently in a position to support HOB

E

I do not currently see enough benefit to my business to support HOB

7. If you were open to contributing, what form would work best for you?

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7. If you were open to contributing, what form would work best for you?

A

A small monthly financial contribution (even $5–$10/month matters)

B

A one-time annual contribution

C

Volunteering time on an HOB Committee or at an HOB event or program

D

Donating a gift card or in-kind prize for HOB to raffle or use for events

E

Sponsoring a specific event or program

F

Other, or I am not contributing.

8. About your business. What kind of business do you own? (Check any that apply)

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8. About your business. What kind of business do you own? (Check any that apply)

Restaurant, bar, or café

Retail shop

Activity-based business (things to do in Biddeford)

Creative or arts-based business

Service business (salon, fitness, wellness, etc.)

Professional services (legal, financial, design, etc.)

Other

9. How long have you been operating downtown?

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9. How long have you been operating downtown?

A

Less than 2 years

B

2–5 years

C

6–10 years

D

More than 10 years

Thank you for being a downtown Biddeford business and for continuing despite how challenging it is to run a business! We really appreciate your taking time to complete this survey.
Below are a few ways you can get more involved or help! Once you click "Next" you can enter your email to win $100!
1) The Business Enhancement Committee meets at HOB monthly on the 4th Wednesday morning at 8:30 a.m., and is open to all downtown business owners.
2) Follow Heart of Biddeford and Art of Biddeford on Facebook or Instagram 3) Donate to HOB on our website: Heartofbiddeford.org/support 4) Pledge to donate a gift card, which we will come pick up, by emailing office@heartofbiddeford.org Feel free to add any additional comments below