By MATT PIKE
An organization that promotes economic development in northwest Missouri is conducting a follow up survey to one it took five years ago.
Maximize Northwest Missouri covers 18 counties across the northwest region of Missouri, and it wants to hear from residents once again.
Director Christel Gollnick says the last survey was important because it showed why people wanted to live in northwest Missouri
"Because the one thing that really got us concerned at the beginning of this effort, is that our population is declining, like many rural areas across America,” Gollnick says on the KFEQmunnity show. “But our population has been declining over a century, and so what is the slow but long-term impact of that, and how can we help people really want to live here, stay here if they grew up here, return maybe if they grew up here.”
Gollick says they learned that outside of jobs some of the biggest reasons people stay are family, social connections, and education opportunities.
Gollnick says the goal of the follow-up survey is to get a five-year comparison and to see what might have changed
"What we want to do with it, it will close soon, October 20th is the end of the survey we’ve kind of had it out over the summer and early fall here, so we’re really pushing here towards the end to get more responses because we just want to know are perceptions different now five years later than they were in 2020,” Gollnick explains.
Gollnick says they also want to have the data on hand so that anyone that wants it can be provided for decision making purposes, such as local organizations, business leaders, or elected officials.
Gollnick says rarely are people asked questions that can really make a difference within their communities
"The data that we’re collecting, the questions that we’re asking, it takes less than 10 minutes by the way, so it’s super easy to help out and participate and really know that your voice is actually going to be listened to," Gollnick says. “It matters, every voice matters, and so I think that’s one reason why people, at least that’s what people tell me, who took the survey that “never take surveys” right.”
Gollnick says Maximize Northwest Missouri wants to hear from residents about what is affecting communities in northwest Missouri.
You can take the survey by clicking HERE. It must be completed before October 20th.
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