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Module #2 – Community Assessment

Module #2 – Community Assessment. Why Conduct A Community Assessment?. It supports community organization that leads to a Shared Vision and commitment It is major part of implementing a Community Dialogue on change

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Module #2 – Community Assessment

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  1. Module #2 – Community Assessment

  2. Why Conduct A Community Assessment? • It supports community organization that leads to a Shared Vision and commitment • It is major part of implementing a Community Dialogue on change • It surfaces dissatisfaction with the status quo and builds momentum for change • It helps identify strengths and weaknesses • It leads to prioritization of issues • It helps focus community resources and efforts

  3. Assessments Focus On Four Primary Areas • Physical Infrastructure • Human Capital • Economic Base & Competitiveness • Social Capacities

  4. External Assessments External – Performed by groups or individuals from outside the community. Narrowly focused. Is this community a good match for our specific business? • Determine location assets and business potential • Evaluate community against selection criteria • Support selection by target industries • Collect market data

  5. Internal Assessments Internal -- What do we need to do to improve our community to make it more attractive for new residents and businesses? • Prepare the community for development • Identify its strengths and weaknesses • Identify potential threats to development • Identify infrastructure issues • Identify social issues • What or who can be attracted here, now? • How can we capitalize on strengths and opportunities, and eliminate or lessen the impact of negatives and threats?

  6. Assessments Also Focus On Action Issues • Community readiness (comfort/complacency) • Leadership • Infrastructure • Issues needing attention • Assets for development • Competitiveness • Quality of life

  7. Data Gathered Needs to be from both Objective & Subjective Sources Objective Data • Factual • Impartial • Impersonal Subjective Data • Impression • Attitude • Feeling

  8. Community Development Features with Objective Data • Labor market • Market accessibility • Transportation • Utilities • Sites and buildings • Taxes • Incentives • Financial assistance • Education and training • Regulatory environment • Quality of life

  9. Sources of Objective Data • State employment office • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics • U.S. Bureau of Census • Local labor surveys • Local utilities • Edison Electric Institute • American Gas Association • Local telecom company • Local tax assessor or clerks • State economic development office • State Revenue Offices • Commerce Clearing House

  10. Sources of Objective Data (continued) • Employers • Third party information – data sources • State economic development office • Local education institutions • Private Industry Council • Local office of State Employment Agency

  11. Louisiana Data Sources • Louisiana Department of Labor • Unemployment • Workforce • Worker Training Programs • Department of Transportation and Development • Highway Construction Projects and Funding • Traffic Counts • Assistance on repair and maintenance priorities

  12. Louisiana Data Sources (continued) • Department of Education - District and School Report Cards • Student Performance on Standardized Tests • Leap Test Performance (LA’s grade promotion / graduation tests) • Suspension, Attendance, and Dropout Rates • Teacher Certification and Educational Levels • Louisiana Economic Development • Regional Representatives • Site and Building Data Base • Industry Clusters (Targeted Industries) • Grants and Technical Assistance • Training Programs

  13. Louisiana Data Sources (continued) • Regional Planning Districts – Regional Data • Geographic Data and Maps (GIS) • Aerial Photography • Enterprise Zones • Recreational Plans • Transportation Plans

  14. Community Development Features with Subjective Data • Leaders committed to change • General positive attitude (Can do spirit!) • History of success • Community pride • Acceptance and obvious welcome • Business Climate • Existing businesses are “healthy” and locally supported • Businesses involved in the development process • Lack of “Red-Tape” • Land owners (farmers and businesses) willingness to sell property

  15. Techniques for Gathering Subjective Data • Asking questions • Listening • Observing • Focus group interviews • Attitude surveys • Key informant interviews • Subject focused surveys • Public meetings • Community workshops

  16. Subjective Data Sources and Techniques • Surveys • Written Surveys • Carefully Word Questions • Pilot Test and Revise • Paper and Internet Based • Tabulate and Report Results To All • Observation • Windshield Tour • Travel All Sections of Town • Use Digital Camera

  17. What Did You Find?Rating Observations

  18. Categorizing Findings – SWOT Analysis Once findings are determined - conduct a SWOT analysis • Internal To The Community • Strengths • Weaknesses • External To The Community • Opportunities • Threats

  19. Moving From Assessment to Planning • Create PowerPoint Presentation • Share assessment report and all results in public meeting • Share as “draft report” • Post report on website in Acrobat • Offer, but charge for copies • Invite all citizens • Present findings, ask for feedback, listen, do not be defensive • Reflect on what was discovered and what was heard • Organize and move to the planning phase

  20. LouisianaCommunityNetwork.org

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