bcengagement survey summary

Battle Creek

Summary of

#BCvision Survey

Purpose

• The purpose of this survey was to provide the

community with an opportunity to offer their

input on priorities for action related to

community economic development.

About the Sample

• The sample was: 60% female (n = 1,376)

39% male (n=901)

.44% other/transgendered (n=10)

• Respondents reported there ages as follows: 23% were 50-59 (n=541)

21% were 30-39 (n=487)

20% were 40-49 (n=467)

12% were 20-20 (n=269)

10% were 60-69 (n=229)

9% were 15-19 (n=209)

3% were 70 and older (n=69)

Less than 1% was 14 and under (n=16)

• The sample reported their race/ethnicity as:

67% Caucasian (n = 1,526)

13% Hispanic or Latino (n=298)

10% African American (n=216)

2% Asian/Pacific Islander, Burmese, Japanese, or Hawaiian (n=72)

1% American Indian or Alaska Native (n=31)

2% identified as other (n=45)

7% preferred not to answer (n=162)

About the Sample

About the Sample

• Respondents reported their employment status as follows: 69% were employed full time (n = 1,580)

10% were employed part-time (n=219)

7% were retired (n=154)

6% were not employed, looking for work (n=132)

4% were not employed, not looking for work (n=98)

2% were disabled, unable to work (n=40)

• Of those employed: 69% were employed in business (n=1,279)

20% worked in nonprofits (n=369)

11% (200) worked in government

About the Sample

• The sample was made up of 50% residents of

the City of Battle Creek (n=1,155)

12% lived in Kalamazoo County (n=279)

7% lived in Emmett Township (n=159)

6% lived in Pennfield Township (n=138)

3% lived in City of Springfield (n=66)

17% lived in other locations (e.g., Marshall,

Bellevue, Lakeview, Leroy Township) (n=380)

About the Sample

• 19% preferred not to report their household income (n=417)

• 16% of respondents between $100,000-$149,999 (n=363)

• 15% earn $75,000-$99,999 (n=330)

• 14% earn $50,000-$74,999 (n=308)

• 8% earn $35,000-$49,999 (n=185)

• 5% earn $25,000-$34,999 (n=119)

• 5% earn $15,000-$24,999 (n=107)

• 5% earn $20,000 or more (n=108)

• 4% earn $10,000 or less (n=87)

• 3% earn $10,000-$14,999 (n=66)

Method

• Community members received solicitations through the mail and online.

• Surveys were available online and through a social media link.

• Data collection was initiated on October 24 and closed on November 10.

• Efforts were made to reach non-English speaking community members. Paper versions of the survey were available in Spanish (n = 252) and Burmese (n = 4).

COMPARISON OF SURVEY SAMPLE TO COMMUNITY AT

LARGE

Summary

• The racial/ethnic demographics of the survey indicated: African Americans were underrepresented, while

Hispanic/Latinos and Native Americans were overrepresented.

The White sample was consistent with the percentage of the population in Battle Creek.

• The survey sample overrepresented those at the highest income levels and underrepresented those making less than $75,000.

• The sample was largely middle aged and underrepresented younger demographic segments (Below 29 years of age)

#BC Vision

Community

Engagement Survey

Battle Creek, city2010 Census

Calhoun County2010 Census

African-American 9.41% 18.2% 11.1%

American

Indian/Native Alaskan1.4% 0.7% 0.7%

Asian/Pacific Islander 2.8% 2.4% 2.0%

Caucasian 67.6% 68.6% 79.3%

Hispanic or Latino 13.11% 6.7% 4.7%

Other 1.96% 4.3% 3.1%

Prefer not to answer 7.14%

#BC Vision

Community

Engagement Survey



Less than $10,000 3.8% 7.9% 9.9%

$10,000 to $14,999 2.9% 6.6% 8.5%

$15,000 to $24,999 4.7% 15.1% 16.5%

$25,000 to $34,999 5.2% 12.9% 13.3%

$35,000 to $49,999 8.2% 15.7% 14.8%

$50,000 to $74,999 13.7% 17.8% 16.2%

$75,000 to $99,999 14.8% 10.4% 8.3%

$100,000 to $149,999 16.3% 9.4% 7.7%

$150,000-$199,999 6.7% 2.6% 2.6%

$200,000 or more 4.9% 1.7% 2.1%

Prefer not to answer 18.6% -- --

#BC Vision

Community

Engagement Survey



Under 14 years 0.7% 21.7% 19.8%

15 to 19 years 9.0% 7.1% 7.5%

20 to 29 years 11.7% 13.0% 12.0%

30 to 39 years 21.2% 13.1% 11.8%

40 to 49 years 20.2% 13.0% 13.7%

50 to 59 years 23.5% 13.4% 14.5%

60 to 69 years 10.0% 9.0% 10.2%

70 years or older 3.0% 9.6% 10.5%

Prefer not to answer 0.6% -- --

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD YOU IDENTIFY AS THE

MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS TO TAKE RELATED TO JOBS

AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY?

Which of the following would you identify as the most

important actions to take related to jobs and career

opportunities in the community?

• The top three priorities for action related to

jobs and career opportunities for the entire

sample were:

Increase the number of jobs with benefits (41%,

n=977)

Job training (38%, n = 898)

Increase Wages (38%, n = 890)

Which of the following would you identify as most important

actions to take related to jobs and career opportunities in the

community?

• Action Priorities by Race An overview of top three priority rankings by race/ethnicity is

provided in the following table. Multiple rankings within racial category indicates a tie.

Caucasians and Hispanic/Latinos reported the top priorityshould be increasing the number of jobs with benefits.

African Americans and Burmese reported increased wages as the top priority.

Both Hispanic/Latinos and Burmese included support to improve English skills as on of the top three priorities.

Overall, African-American and Caucasian respondents endorsed the same action priorities, although not in the same order.

African

American

American

Indian or

Alaska

Native

Asian/Pacifi

c Islander

Burmese Caucasian Hispanic or

Latino

Japanese Native

Hawaiian

Mentoring opportunities 3 2

Learning about opportunities for career

advancement once employed1 2 3

Job training 2 1 2 2 2 1

Increase wages 1 2 3 1 3

Increase the number of jobs with

benefits3 1 1

More family-friendly work policies

(like paid maternity leave, flexible

hours, etc.)

2

More affordable and high-quality day

care options

Support for people who want to start a

business3

Support to improve English skills (for

immigrants learning English)3 3 1

Access to legal work authorization 2

Transportation 3 3

Jobs that are available to people with

prior criminal history

Access to different types of

jobs/diverse sectors for employment3

Recruit outside talent




• Action Priorities by Income

An overview of top three priority rankings by income is provided in the following table. Multiple rankings within income category indicates a tie.

Across the income spectrum, job training, increased wages, and increasing jobs with benefits emerged as priorities.

Transportation and employment for those with prior criminal histories also emerged as priorities when analyzed by income.

Less

than

$10,000

$10,000

-

$14,999

$15,000

-

$24,999

$25,000

-

$34,999

$35,000

-

$49,999

$50,000

-

$74,999

$75,000

-

$99,999

$100,000

-

$149,999

$150,000

-

$199,999

$200,000

or more

Mentoring opportunities

Learning about opportunities for

career advancement once

employed

Job training 2 2 1 3 3 3 2 2 2 2

Increase wages 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3 3


benefits3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

More family-friendly work

policies (like paid maternity

leave, flexible hours, etc.)

More affordable and high-quality

day care options

Support for people who want to

start a business

Support to improve English skills

(for immigrants learning English)

Access to legal work

authorization

Transportation 3

Jobs that are available to people

with prior criminal history3


jobs/diverse sectors for

employment




• Action Priorities by Age

An overview of top three priority rankings by age is provided in the following table. Multiple rankings within age category indicates a tie.

Increased wages are ranked in the top 3 for every age group.

Increasing the number of jobs with benefits is a priority for groups aged 20-70 and older.

20-29 and 30-39-year-olds list family-friendly work policies as a top concern.

14 and

younger

15-19 20-20 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70 and

older

Mentoring opportunities

Learning about opportunities for career

advancement once employed

Job training 2 2 3 3 2 2

Increase wages 1 1 1 2 1 2 3 3


benefits2 3 2 1 1 1

More family-friendly work policies

(like paid maternity leave, flexible

hours, etc.)

3 1

More affordable and high quality day

care options

Support for people who want to start a

business3

Support to improve English skills (for

immigrants learning English)

Access to legal work authorization

Transportation 3

Jobs that are available to people with

prior criminal history


jobs/Diverse sectors for employment3

Recruit outside talent

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD YOU IDENTIFY AS THE

MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS TO TAKE TO PREPARE OUR

COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR COLLEGE OR EMPLOYMENT?

Which of the following would you identify as the most important actions

to take to prepare our community members for college or employment?

• The top three priorities for college and

employment preparation for the entire sample

were:

Apprenticeship/internship opportunities in skilled

trades (46%, n = 1,090)

Access to scholarships/financial aid for college/job

training (44%, n = 1,042)

Better K-12 education, leading to higher

graduation rates (41%, n = 968).

Which of the following would you identify as the most important actions

to take to prepare our community members for college or employment?

• Action Priorities by Race An overview of top three priority rankings by race/ethnicity is

provided in the following table. Multiple rankings within racial category indicates a tie.

African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos reported access to scholarships/financial aid for college/job training was the top priority.

Both Hispanic/Latinos and Burmese included informing parents about the steps for college preparation as a one of the top three priorities.

When analyzed by race, the majority of racial subgroups ranked better K-12 education as one of three top priorities.

Overall, African Americans and Caucasians endorsed the same action priorities, although not in the same order.

African

American

American

Indian or

Alaska

Native

Asian/Pacifi

c Islander


Latino

Japanese Native

Hawaiian

More mentors/academic role models 1 3 1

Apprenticeship/internship opportunities

in skilled trades3 1 1 1 1

Inform parents about the steps for

college preparation so they can support

and guide their kids

3 2 3 2 2

Access to scholarship/financial aid for

college/job training1 2 1 2 3 1 1

Better K-12 education, leading to

higher graduation rates2 2 2 2 3 1

More help with tutoring

More extracurricular opportunities

Begin college preparation planning

earlier in the curriculum1 2

More career exploration opportunities,

leading to higher associate/bachelor-

level talent

3

More leadership development

opportunities

Access to GED preparation 1

Quality preschool opportunities for all

children





An overview of top three priority rankings by

income is provided in the following table. Multiple

rankings within income category indicates a tie.

Opportunities for apprenticeships, improving

education, and scholarships were important across

the income spectrum.

Less

than

$10,000

$10,000

-

$14,999

$15,000

-

$24,999

$25,000

-

$34,999

$35,000

-

$49,999

$50,000

-

$74,999

$75,000

-

$99,999

$100,000

-

$149,999

$150,000

-

$199,999

$200,000

or more

More mentors/academic role

models

Apprenticeship/internship

opportunities in skilled trades2 1 3 2 1 1 1 2


college preparation so they can

support and guide their kids

2

Access to scholarship/financial

aid for college/job training1 2 1 1 2 3 3 2 3

Better K-12 education, leading to

higher graduation rates3 2 3 3 2 2 1 1

More help with tutoring 1

More extracurricular

opportunities3

Begin college preparation

planning earlier in the curriculum3 3

More career exploration

opportunities, leading to higher

associate/bachelor-level talent


opportunities

Access to GED preparation

Quality preschool opportunities

for all children






Access to scholarship/financial aid and better K-12 education are listed as priorities across all age groups.

Those who identify in age groups between 40-70 and older rank apprenticeship and internship opportunities as a priority.

14 and

younger

15-19 20-20 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70 and

older

More mentors/academic role models 2

Apprenticeship/internship opportunities

in skilled trades3 1 1 1 1


college preparation so they can support

and guide their kids

3

Access to scholarship/financial aid for

college/job training1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3

Better K-12 Education, leading to

higher graduation rates3 3 2 2 3 2 2 2

More help with tutoring

More extracurricular opportunities

Begin college preparation planning

earlier in the curriculum3 2

More career exploration opportunities,

leading to higher associate/bachelor

level talent

3


opportunities

Access to GED preparation

Quality preschool opportunities for all

children.

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR BATTLE CREEK TO

BE A THRIVING CITY WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE,

WORK, AND PLAY?

What is MOST important for Battle Creek to be a thriving city

where people want to live, work, and play?

• The top three priorities for Battle Creek to be a

thriving community for the entire sample

were:

Safe neighborhoods (61%, n = 1,423).

Having an active and lively downtown (44%, n =

1,046).

Having a variety of affordable recreational

activities (34%, n = 800).

What is MOST important for Battle Creek to be a thriving city

where people want to live, work, and play?

• Action Priorities by Race

An overview of top three priority rankings by race/ethnicity is provided in the following table. Multiple rankings within racial category indicates a tie.

African Americans and Caucasians reported that safe neighborhoods should be the top priority.

African Americans and Caucasians reported that having a lively downtown should be the second priority.

Both Hispanic/Latinos and Burmese subgroups prioritized having a strong sense of community togetherness.

African

American

American

Indian or

Alaska

Native

Asian/Pacifi

c Islander


Latino

Japanese Native

Hawaiian

Having a variety of affordable

recreational activities3 2 3 3 2 2 2

Having good infrastructure 2 3

More opportunities for residents to be

involved and have a voice3

Adopting a culture of appreciation for

academic excellence1 1 1 1 1

Safe neighborhoods 1 1 1

Having more diverse community

leadership

Having lots of opportunities for many

people to be leaders

Being a community that actively

embraces its diversity3 2

Having a variety of local businesses 3 3

Having an active and lively downtown 2 2 2 2

Having strong social services to

support all in meeting basic needs3

Having a strong sense of community

unity and togetherness3 3 3

Good housing opportunities



community?


An overview of top three priority rankings by

income is provided in the following table. Multiple

rankings within income category indicates a tie.

Respondents across all income levels reported safe

neighborhoods as their top priority.

Having and active and lively downtown is a

priority for those whose household income is

$15,000 or more.

Less

than

$10,000

$10,000

-

$14,999

$15,000

-

$24,999

$25,000

-

$34,999

$35,000

-

$49,999

$50,000

-

$74,999

$75,000

-

$99,999

$100,000

-

$149,999

$150,000

-

$199,999

$200,000

or more


recreational activities3 3 2 3 3 3

Having good infrastructure

More opportunities for residents

to be involved and have a voice

Adopting a culture of

appreciation for academic

excellence.

Safe neighborhoods 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2


leadership

Having lots of opportunities for

many people to be leaders.


embraces its diversity

Having a variety of local

businesses3 3 3

Having an active and lively

downtown3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1


support all in meeting basic needs3

Having a strong sense of

community unity and 2



community?



Safe neighborhoods are a top priority across all age groups.

All age groups identify having an active and lively downtown as a priority.

Respondents 49 and younger prioritize having a variety of affordable recreational opportunities.

14 and

younger

15-19 20-20 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70 and

older

14 and

younger


recreational activities1 2 3 3 3

Having good infrastructure 3

More opportunities for residents to

be involved and have a voice2

Adopting a culture of appreciation

for academic excellence.

Safe neighborhoods 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1


leadership

Having lots of opportunities for

many people to be leaders.3


embraces its diversity

Having a variety of local businesses 3 3

Having an active and lively

downtown3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2


support all in meeting basic needs

Having a strong sense of community

unity and togetherness3 2

Good housing opportunities

Summary

• Employment with benefits, educational improvements and support, and safe neighborhoods emerged as priority action items.

• The survey reached a strong cross-section of the community. Having surveys available in Spanish and Burmese supported this outreach effort

African Americans were underrepresented relative to their population.

• The sample was largely employed and economically stable. More outreach is necessary to reach a larger cross-section of lower-income individuals.

• The findings indicate that there are points of similarities in terms of the priorities identified by different groups of respondents (i.e., race, age, and income).

• A deeper analysis of priorities by intersections of race, income, and age would be beneficial in future work.

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bcengagement survey summary

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