MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
Reno County residents have until Sept. 30 to make their voices heard in the Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Love Where You Live Resident Perception Survey.
The deadline is approaching for the third and final year of the survey under the foundation’s current three-year program. The survey gathers residents’ views about what is working in their communities, what needs improvement and what should be priorities moving forward.
Results are shared with city councils, the Reno County Commission, nonprofits, volunteers and other community organizations to assist with planning and help guide potential grant funding.
Previous surveys have identified priorities including housing, public infrastructure, removing or renovating blighted properties, food access, childcare and efforts to attract new businesses and expand existing ones.
The foundation has also been working this year to increase participation among younger residents, renters, people of color and residents of smaller Reno County communities. Foundation officials say hearing from a broader range of residents will provide a more complete picture of priorities across the county.
There is also a financial incentive for communities to encourage residents to participate. The foundation has set aside $50,000 for community projects, with a proportion of the funding tied to the number of surveys received from individual communities. Community meetings will later help determine how those dollars are used.
The survey takes approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete and includes opportunities for residents to provide written feedback about issues important to them.
Residents can complete the survey at RenoSurvey.com.
All responses must be submitted by Sept. 30.