Redmond business owners are optimistic about the future, according to a survey recently conducted by the city.

In December 2012, the city sent out 1,400 surveys packaged with business license renewal notices. About 23 percent, or 327, returned a completed or partially completed survey.

The survey results will be presented to the Redmond City Council at its Tuesday evening meeting.

About a quarter of business owners who responded to the survey said they are planning to expand during the next year.

More than 60 percent of those with plans for expansion said they expect to hire additional employees, while others intend to move into a new building, renovate their existing building or invest in new equipment or workforce training.

Respondents described their businesses as small — 41 percent are sole proprietorships, while 88 percent have 10 employees or fewer.

Jon Stark, Redmond manager for Economic Development for Central Oregon, said the survey results show how much of Redmond’s workforce is self-employed, often in a home-based business.

EDCO deals with the recruitment and development of larger companies, and are also eying expansion, Stark said.

Several of Redmond’s larger companies, including PCC Schlosser, Medisiss, Central Oregon Trucking and Pape Kenworth have added employees this year, he said.

Survey respondents indicated a limited familiarity with business development services offered by various local agencies and governments.

Just 56 percent and 55 percent, respectively, were familiar with services offered by the Redmond Chamber of Commerce and the Oregon Employment Department, while all other organizations scored below 50 percent.

Redmond has been working to improve its business outreach efforts.

The Redmond Development Commission was created in 2009 to coordinate efforts of various groups already working in business development and outreach.

Still in its early stages, Stark said one of the goals of the group is to make it possible for a person looking to open or expand a business to schedule a single meeting where questions about every aspect of their plans could be answered.

Stark said such an arrangement could be particularly useful for smaller businesses considering expansion.

“One of the bridges we’ve got to cross is getting it out there that there are resources out there to help businesses succeed,” he said.