Worcester Business Journal Special Editions

Yes, with new product lines 16% Yes, with expansion into new geographic territories .......... 13% Yes, with new expanded facilities .........................................5% Yes, with the combination of some or all of the above 17% No ............................................... 49% 6 2014 Economic Forecast www.wbjournal.com Worcester Business Journal Do you have plans to expand in 2014? Will you raise capital in 2014? Do you plan to make a major investment in property, plant or equipment in 2014? ... but if they expand, chances are they'll do it with their own money. ... as did the number of respondents whose companies plan to make major capital investments. About half of respondents plan to expand in some way, almost the same number as in the last two years. 2014 Yes, with new product lines 13% Yes, with expansion into new geographic territories .......... 15% Yes, with new expanded facilities .........................................6% Yes, with the combination of some or all of the above 18% No ............................................... 48% Yes, with new product lines 17% Yes, with expansion into new geographic territories .......... 11% Yes, with new expanded facilities .........................................6% Yes, with the combination of some or all of the above 17% No ............................................... 49% Yes, with new product lines 24% Yes, with expansion into new geographic territories .......... 22% Yes, with new expanded facilities ...................................... 10% Yes, with the combination of some or all of the above ........* No ............................................... 44% * Answer choice was not offered in 2010. What method do you primarily plan to use to raise capital in 2014? Sentiment for lending as a way to raise money picked up in 2013 ... Private investment (including venture capital) ...................... 35% Micro investors, or "crowdfunding" ..........................0% Bank loans ................................ 32% Public markets ...........................3% Other ......................................... 32% * This answer choice was added in 2012. Private investment (including venture capital) ...................... 26% Micro investors, or "crowdfunding" ..........................8% Bank loans ................................ 13% Public markets ........................ 11% Other ......................................... 42% Private investment (including venture capital) ...................... 42% Micro investors, or "crowdfunding" ...............................* Bank loans ................................ 38% Public markets ...........................4% Other ......................................... 16% Private investment (including venture capital) ...................... 26% Micro investors, or "crowdfunding" ...............................* Bank loans ................................ 37% Public markets ...........................5% Other ......................................... 32% Yes, with new product lines 16% Yes, with expansion into new geographic territories .......... 13% Yes, with new expanded facilities .........................................5% Yes, with the combination of some or all of the above 17% No ............................................... 49% 2013 2012 2011 2010 2013 2012 2011 2010 2013 2012 2011 2010 Yes 16% No 64% Don't know 20% Yes 17% No 54% Don't know 29% Yes 19% No 53% Don't know 28% Yes 19% No 57% Don't know 25% 2013 2012 2011 2010 Yes 16% No 64% Don't know 20% Yes 17% No 54% Don't know 29% Yes 19% No 53% Don't know 28% Yes 19% No 57% Don't know 25%

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