Southold’s Economic Development Committee is asking local businesses for a simple favor. They want your thoughts. The committee just launched its 2026 Annual Business Survey, a 14-question form designed to identify the obstacles you face. The goal is to move beyond anecdotes and gather real data to shape future town policies.
Committee co-chair Paul Romanelli says he hears the struggles daily. He points to the difficulty of finding qualified employees, navigating peak season demands, and dealing with infrastructure limits like unreliable internet. Romanelli and co-chair Amanda Giuliano believe measurable data is the key to securing funding and pushing for legislative action. They need to prove the scale of the problem to the people who control the purse strings and the rulebooks.
The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete. It is open to all businesses operating in Southold Town and the Village of Greenport. This includes farms, restaurants, retail shops, and marine businesses. The questions cover familiar ground for any North Fork business owner:
- Affordable workforce housing
- Competition for seasonal employees
- High energy costs
- Limited public transportation
- Zoning restrictions that may prevent expansion
- Interest in a Business and Entrepreneurship Center
Other topics include limited public transportation, zoning restrictions that may prevent expansion, and the potential for shared municipal parking in downtown hamlets. This center could offer help navigating grants, workforce training, and networking.
Romanelli and Giuliano call this effort 10 Minutes to Shape Southold’s Economic Future. In a joint statement, they wrote that the town cannot fix what it cannot quantify. They argue that for policies to actually support peak seasons and protect the year-round economy, every business sector needs representation in the data. The co-chairs hope this becomes an annual initiative. Future questionnaires would then focus on the most pressing economic issues identified each year.
The survey will be online for about six weeks. Results are expected to be released roughly two weeks after it closes. You can complete the survey at the provided website. QR codes linking to the questionnaire are also available on flyers at Town Hall, local libraries, and post offices. The committee’s request is straightforward. They want your voice to be part of their numbers.
| Key Elements | Description |
|---|---|
| Survey Duration | Less than 10 minutes |
| Target Audience | All businesses in Southold Town and Greenport Village |
| Number of Questions | 14 |
| Survey Topics | Workforce housing, employee competition, energy costs |
| Available Resources | QR codes, flyers at Town Hall, libraries |
| Expected Results Release | Two weeks after closing |
