Sampson Research provides research and analysis to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of programs to encourage the efficient use of energy, water, and other resources.

Sampson Research has completed a broad portfolio of studies that assess market potential, incentive levels and pricing structures, supply-side and demand-side barriers, and influencers of customer behaviour. Emphasis is placed on establishing a baseline from which progress can be monitored and assessed.

Sampson Research helps its clients ensure their programs and initiatives meet their targets efficiently and effectively. Commonly researched issues include the effectiveness of program communications, delivery channels and methods, customer and market actor satisfaction, barriers to participation, and the appropriateness of incentive structures and levels. Post-implementation market updates are used to evaluate progress towards market transformation.

Sampson Research has extensive experience in conducting independent and unbiased process, market and impact evaluations of initiatives that encourage the efficient use of energy and renewables. A variety of qualitative and quantitative tools are used to assess the effectiveness of program marketing, communications, and targeting, program attribution, and direct and indirect economic impacts.

Sampson Research specializes in the preparation of economic and socio-economic impact assessments for communities, government, industry, and industry associations.

Impact studies are used to understand the economic and socio-economic implications of industry projects, community events, and government policy initiatives. They provide a credible and defensible basis for securing financing, meeting regulatory commitments, increasing community awareness, and achieving stakeholder acceptance.

Typical topics addressed by economic and socio-economic impact studies include:

• employment
• household incomes
• business expenditures
• consumer spending and retail sales
• government tax revenues
• population and demographics

Depending upon the need, Sampson Research supplements its impact analyses with a variety of quantitative and qualitative tools to help its clients fully understand how their projects and programs affect stakeholders.

Sampson Research has a strong appreciation of what successful economic development means to communities. Services offered include investment preparedness research and evaluations of economic development programming and initiatives.

Attracting and converting investor and site selector interest into investment dollars begins with demonstrating a community’s strengths and opportunities. Sampson Research assists communities with:

• community economic profiles
• industry, labour market, infrastructure profiles
• competitiveness research and benchmarking
• cost-of-living and quality-of-life studies
• assessments of investment preparedness
• prospect targeting and customer research

Sampson Research provides communities and economic development organizations with independent and unbiased evaluations of their economic development initiatives and programming including:

• business retention and expansion programs
• investment attraction initiatives
• economic development website content and design