One Region's poll last summer found strong support for regional cooperation on a number of issues. On Friday, a group of residents throughout the Region will help determine One Region's priorities and how to work toward implementation.
Here's what the poll said.
REGIONAL COORDINATION
The vast majority believe coordination would allow the Region to compete more effectively and efficiently in a global economy. And most feel sharing public services across municipalities or counties would not have any negative impact on quality or service. Fire and police are notable exceptions.
More than 60% wish local residents had a greater sense of connection to the broader Region.
- The overwhelming majority of residents (86%) feel there needs to be greater collaboration between local governments here.
- More than 9 in 10 (93%) believe the Region needs to work together to compete in a global economy.
- A majority feel the following public services could be shared by multiple counties or municipalities with no impact on service quality: transportation (61%); emergency dispatch (58%); public utilities (54%); and education (54%). Fewer believe fire (46%), zoning and permitting (46%), and police (44%) could be shared with no negative impact.
- More than 8 in 10 residents (82%) say people act like they are living in separate communities instead of one Region.
PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES
Nearly all residents find it important to follow regional public policy issues. For most, the Region's top concerns involve employment or education. Specifically, the majority of residents say priority needs to be placed on both job creation and universal access to quality education. Most residents do express high interest in how their tax dollars are spent, with more than 8 in 10 saying they are extremely concerned.
- Over 3 in 4 (76%) residents feel it is at least very important to follow public policy issues in the news that affects the Region, with about 1 in 4 (24%) saying it is “absolutely essential.”
- Residents' top priorities for the Region are: access to good-paying jobs (84%); education system (84%); new business creation (83%); and the economy (83%).
- Of the issues selected, the No. 1 issue is: education system (24%), followed by access to good paying jobs (19%).
- Similarly, most residents say the top priorities are: job creation (89%); equal access to a good education (86%); public safety agencies cooperating/sharing information efficiently (79%); government making public information readily available (76%); and transportation improvements (74%).
- Of the issues selected, job creation (40%) and equal access to education (30%) are by far the top responses when residents chose their No. 1 priority.
ECONOMY
The economy is explicitly mentioned as one of the key priorities for the Region. However, a majority do not believe the government is doing enough to successfully build a diverse economy.
Nearly everyone believes greater emphasis needs to be placed on creating jobs that pay a livable wage as well as attracting more contemporary jobs (and younger talent) to the Region. To bring greater economic growth to the Region, most residents feel the focus needs to be on jobs in technology, manufacturing and small business.
- Seven in 10 (70%) say the Region is not doing enough to build a diverse economy.
- Nearly all residents (98%) believe attracting jobs to the Region is extremely important.
- To grow the economy in the Region with existing tax dollars, most residents feel the government should prioritize creating 21st century jobs that pay a livable wage in growing economic sectors (86%).
- More than three-quarters of residents believe the Region needs to focus on technology (81%); manufacturing (78%); and small-business (77%) to create more jobs.
- When asked to select the one area most important to creating more jobs, 28% of residents reported manufacturing.
- Nearly 9 in 10 (87%) say fostering small business is key to economic growth in the Region, and 85% feel the government needs to make it easier to start small businesses.
- The vast majority believe attracting young talent is key to economic growth (90%) and that a young population is vital to the future (92%).
QUALITY OF LIFE
The vast majority are proud of their Region, believing it is a unique and special place to live. About 7 in 10 feel the Region is the best place to live in the Chicago area and would recommend their specific town to someone looking to reside in the area.
Most residents are convinced the Region is a great place for families and seniors and is inclusive to people of all races and ethnicities. However, when thinking about retirees in particular, about 7 in 10 residents rate their community as only slightly above average (fair or good) on health care, affordable housing, safety, social services and recreation.
Moreover, despite the generally high praise, only a small minority of residents feel their Region is continuing to improve as a place to live. A much larger proportion feel the area is declining in residential value.
- Almost 9 in 10 residents (87%) feel the Region is unique compared to the rest of Indiana.
- Nearly 8 in 10 (79%) feel the Region is a great place to raise a family.
- Nearly 7 in 10 (68%) say the Region values the inclusion of all races and ethnicities.
- More than 3 in 4 (76%) believe access to health care is very good.
- A slight majority (56%) feel the Region is a great place to live for retirees and senior citizens.
- Most rate the NW Indiana Region as positioned as fair/good as a place for retirees with respect to: health care (74%); affordable housing (74%); safety/security (74%); social services (72%); recreation (70%) and cost of living (71%). In contrast, only 1 in 10 or less grades these aspects as “excellent”: health care (13%); affordable housing (8%); safety/security (6%); social services (3%); recreation (8%) and cost of living (9%).
- However, only about one-quarter (26%) feel the Region is becoming a better place to live, while about 43% say it getting worse.
- A strong minority (41%) agree the Region does not have enough public access to Lake Michigan.
EDUCATION
The educational system is not given exceptionally high marks (an average of “B/C” on a standard grading scale). Very few (1 in 10) rate the schools as “excellent," while five times more feel the schools are performing at a less than acceptable (fair, poor or failing) level.
One key criticism is that a large minority believe children are not universally given equal access to a quality education.
Furthermore, a majority do not believe the regional educational system is adequately preparing students for a 21st century workplace. This deficit (of not developing a career-ready workforce) is considered one of the top priorities the government needs to address.
- The regional educational system gets a satisfactory grade of C or better from residents. Nearly half of residents (46%) give the educational system high marks (either A or B), while roughly a third (34%) give it a C, and about 1 in 5 (19%) grade it as poor or failing with a grade of D or F.
- A majority (69%) do not believe the regional education system is adequately preparing students for the 21st century workplace.
- Only about 4 in 10 (42%) feel all children in the Region have equal access to a good education.
- According to residents, one of the top priorities is the education system (84%), along with jobs (84%). Even when asked to select just one as their top priority, education still comes out as No. 1 (24%).
- To grow the economy with existing tax dollars, most residents feel the government needs to prioritize improving the educational system to create a career-ready workforce (82%).
TRANSPORTATION
About half of residents stress the lack of public transportation options as a challenge for people to stay in the Region. Nearly 3 in 4 feel improvements in transportation are a key focus area.
Many residents access Chicago at least once a month to socialize, shop, work or participate in events/activities.
- A slight majority (53%) say the lack of transportation options has made it difficult for people to want to stay in the Region.
- In fact, about 1 in 5 (19%) have considered moving to a nearby city where they wouldn’t need a car.
- Many residents visit Chicago on at least a monthly basis to: visit friends and relatives (26%); recreation (22%); work (17%); shopping (17%); and cultural activities (16%).
- When asked specifically, 3 in 4 (76%) say road infrastructure and 3 in 5 (59%) say public transportation are Region priorities.
FUTURE OUTLOOK
There is some modest optimism that Indiana is headed in the right direction. However, this limited optimism (about 4 in 10 adults) is overshadowed by a larger proportion of residents pessimistic about the future outlook for the state.
On a micro level, Northwest Indiana residents are more hopeful than doubtful about the prospects for the Region, and nearly two-thirds express confidence in its future. Most hold the government (either local or state) responsible for the Region’s future direction.
- About 4 in 10 residents (39%) feel the state is heading in the right direction. However, about half (48%) are pessimistic and feel it is on the wrong track. Over 1 in 10 (12%) do not know.
- Comparatively, almost half of residents (47%) feel the Region is heading in the right direction, while only 39% feel it is on the wrong track. more than 1 in 10 (14%) do not know.
- While 67% say the Region's future is uncertain, a similar proportion (63%) feel confident in the future of the Region.
- Most residents say they hold the local government (73%) and the state government (63%) mainly responsible for the direction of the Region.