The Carroll County Department of Economic Development is planning to survey 3,500 area businesses to determine if the education system is fulfilling employment needs.

The six-page surveys, similar to one developed by the Greater Baltimore Alliance, will be mailed in January. Copies will go to members of the Economic Development Commission next month.

"We want businesses to tell us what they want," said John T. Lyburn Jr., the county's economic development director.

Lyburn and his staff will conduct interviews, assessing employment and training needs with the county's top 300 business owners and several farmers.

"There should be more emphasis on agriculture and retaining it," said Donald Essich, a retired farmer and commission member. "Agriculture is such an important part of the county, and it is often glaringly missing from these studies."

Essich would like the survey to define more directly what the commission can do to help the farming business.

"Agriculture is our No. 1 industry, and we are very much aware of it," said Lyburn.

Pub Date: 11/23/98