When businesses and economic development opportunities look at Janesville and Rock County, they don't see our community in isolation.
Increasingly, they see a larger economic region — one connected by workforce, industry, infrastructure and opportunity from Janesville north to the Greater Madison area and from our city south through Beloit to the stateline.
That's why Forward Janesville is partnering with the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, Greater Beloit Chamber of Commerce and other regional organizations to expand the Next Normal (N²) Business Survey and ensure Rock County employers are represented in the data helping inform our region's economic future.
Forward Janesville members are encouraged to complete the survey by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
CLICK HERE TO TAKE THE SURVEY
Why This Matters for Janesville and Rock County
Economic development doesn't stop at municipal or county lines.
Workers commute between communities. Businesses serve customers and rely on suppliers throughout the region. And companies considering where to invest, expand or locate increasingly evaluate the strengths and needs of an entire region.
Having strong participation from Janesville and Rock County businesses gives us better information to tell that story.
The survey will help Forward Janesville and our partners understand the current state of businesses throughout the region, identify their needs and better understand opportunities to attract new industries and investment.
Importantly, participation from Rock County will also allow for a Rock County-specific look at the results, providing Forward Janesville and the Greater Beloit Chamber with local data that can help inform our work moving forward.
The more local businesses that participate, the clearer that picture becomes.
What the Survey Covers
Now in its third year, the N² survey is designed to assess current and projected economic conditions and track how the business environment is changing.
Topics include:
Results from this year's survey will also help benchmark responses against 2024 and 2025, allowing regional partners to identify trends and better anticipate changing conditions affecting businesses and communities.
Make Sure Rock County Is Represented
The survey takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete, and organizations are asked to submit one response per organization.
All individual responses will remain strictly confidential and will only be viewed by limited Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce staff. Publicly shared findings will be presented only in aggregate so individual employers cannot be identified.
Respondents who provide an email address will also receive a copy of the topline aggregated findings.
The deadline to participate is 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22.
If you aren't the appropriate person within your organization to answer questions about your business outlook, workforce and talent needs, please share the survey with the colleague who is.
TAKE THE NEXT NORMAL BUSINESS SURVEY
Strong economic development strategies start with good information — and good information starts with hearing directly from businesses.
By participating, Janesville and Rock County employers can help Forward Janesville and our regional partners better understand where businesses stand today, where opportunities exist and how we can work together to support economic growth across the region.