A survey of businesses in Ventura County shows that 69 percent find the environment to be supportive of small business. The survey conducted on behalf of the Ventura County Workforce Investment Board spotlights what small businesses are saying about their needs, what problems they face, and what is working out for them. More than 60 small business owners took part in the survey. Businesses ranged from consulting, real estate, banking, insurance and public accounting to agriculture. Of those surveyed, 77 percent said they provided or paid for classroom training, workshops or seminars in the last 12 months. The reasons for increasing training ranged from need to improve worker productivity (88 percent) to changes in technology (77 percent) to legal requirement to increase training (49 percent). Half the business owners surveyed said they had difficulty finding qualified applicants for jobs they were trying to fill in the last 12 months. Of the effect that difficulty has on their businesses, 61 percent of the owners said it reduced production output or sales.