Community Attitudes Towards Growth, Regionalism and Impact of the Arts

1
Community AttitudesTowards Growth, Regionalism
and Impact of the Arts

• May 11, 2005
• Edward G. Murphy, M.D.

2
Surveying Methodology

• Telephone surveys

• Roanoke Valley(Bedford County, Bedford City,
  Botetourt County, Franklin County, Roanoke City,
  Roanoke County, Salem City)

• New River Valley(Blacksburg, Christiansburg,
  Giles County, Montgomery County, Pearisburg
  County, Pulaski County, Town of Pulaski, Radford
  City)

3
Surveying Methodology Cont

• Roanoke Valley

• New River Valley

• General Population
• n 402
• margin of error /- 4.9

• General Population
• n 324
• margin of error/- 5.4

• Business Population
• n 101
• margin of error /- 9.8

• Business Population
• n 50
• margin of error /- 13.9

4
Population Shift Over Past Five Years
General Population
RV
n402 Grown a lot 33 Grown
some 39 Remained same 15 Decreased some 7
Decreased a lot 1 Unsure 6
NRV n324 40 33 13 7 2 5
5
Population Shift Over Past Five Years
Business Leaders
RV
n101 Grown a lot 7 Grown some 42 Remained
same 44 Decreased some 5 Decreased a lot
0 Unsure 3
NRV n50 30 62 4 0 0 4
6
Is Growth Good?
General Population
RV
n402 Very favorable 19 Somewhat
favorable 45 Neither favorable 13nor
unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable 14 Very
unfavorable 4 Unsure 5
NRV n324 27 43 10 10 4 6
7
Is Growth Good?
Business Leaders
RV
n101 Very favorable 26 Somewhat
favorable 57 Neither favorable 10 nor
unfavorable Somewhat unfavorable 5 Very
unfavorable 2 Unsure 0
NRV n50 36 48 12 2 0 2
8
Is Growth Good?
Comments

• Favorable

• Real estate tax increase means more money for
  schools
• Good for economy
• More opportunities, more cosmopolitan, more jobs,
  more variety
• More young people in the area, would bring in
  better business
• More jobs, childrens activities, healthier
  economy

9
Is Growth Good?
Comments Cont

• Favorable

• Increase tax base and better services will follow
• Lots of home building and different modes of
  living
• Attracts more amenities (restaurants,
  entertainment)
• Virginia Tech enrollment causes school expansion
  which affects development

10
Is Growth Good?
Comments Cont
Favorable

• In controlled growth situations will bring new
  young people to area who will have positive
  impact on environment and economy
• Stimulate local government to invest in more and
  better services, quality of life in particular
• House and land value would increase
• Need the growth to fuel infrastructure

11
Is Growth Good?
Comments Cont
Unfavorable

• Traffic and school problems
• Destruction of farms and older communities
• Developers would build and destroy green space
• Jobs per capita has not increased with population
• Traffic congestion
• Crime, overcrowding
• Congestion

12
Is Growth Good?
Comments Cont
Unfavorable

• Growth is choking the rural area out and taxes
  are increasing
• Beautiful place to live but with more people the
  less beautiful it becomes
• Haphazard development
• Developing the land, the zoning isnt thought
  through very well
• I dont like to see the farm land turned into
  housing developments

13
Importance of PopulationGrowth to Company
Business Leaders

RV n101 Very important 50 Somewhat
important 33 Not very important 5 Not at
all important 12
NRV n50 52 30 10 8
14
See RV and NRV as One Region
General Population

RV n402 Personally 29 Others outside region
31 Some outside region do 8
(unaided)
NRV n324 23 33 7
15
See RV and NRV as One Region
Business Leaders

RV n101 Personally 38 Others outside region
29 Some outside region do 10 (unaided)
NRV n50 38 30 6
16
Importance of PromotingEntire Region as One
General Population
RV
n402 Very important 63 Somewhat important
25 Not very important 7 Not at all
important 1
NRV n324 62 24 9 3
17
Importance of PromotingEntire Region as One
Business Leaders
NRV n50 64 24 8 4

RV n101 Very important 82 Somewhat
important 13 Not very important 4 Not at
all important 0
18
How to Work for Population/Employment Growth
General Population

RV n402 Together 73 Independently 17 Dont
want growth 1 Unsure 8
NRV n324 71 23 2 4
19
How to Work for Population/Employment Growth
Business Leaders

RV n101 Together 88 Independently
8 Dont want growth 1 Unsure 3
NRV n50 78 12 0 10
20
Importance of Arts Cultural Offerings (i.e.,
theaters and museums)
General Population
NRV n324 35 43 14 4
RV
n402 Very important 38 Somewhat
important 44 Not very important 13 Not at all
important 4
21
Importance of Roanoke ValleysArts Cultural
Offerings to NRV(Center in the Square, Mill
Mountain Theater, Roanoke Symphony, Art Museum)
General Population
RV
n402 Very important 38 Somewhat
important 38 Not very important 12 Not at all
important 3
NRV n324 38 43 11 5
22
Importance of Roanoke ValleysArts Cultural
Offerings to NRV(Center in the Square, Mill
Mountain Theater, Roanoke Symphony, Art Museum)
Business Leaders
RV
n101 Very important 18 Somewhat
important 48 Not very important 23 Not at all
important 3
NRV n50 6 64 20 8
23
Importance of RV/RegionsArts Cultural
Offerings toPotential Relocating Companies
Business Leaders
NRV n50 18 64 14 0
RV
n101 Very important 46 Somewhat
important 41 Not very important 9 Not at
all important 3
24
Importance of RV/RegionsArts Cultural
Offerings toRecruiting Employees
Business Leaders
RV
n101 Very important 36 Somewhat
important 53 Not very important 5 Not at all
important 3
NRV n50 14 64 16 4
25
Companies Support Economic Development (Roanoke
Valley)
Comments

• Member of the local chamber of commerce
• Donate to different charities
• Members of regional partnership, chamber of
  commerce and better business bureau
• A financial institution that lends to the
  community
• Involved in committees that work on economic
  development
• Try to grow and expand and increase your work
  force

26
Company Supports Economic Development (Roanoke
Valley)
Comments Cont

• By expanding my own company
• Contribute food and funds to cultural and other
  programs and events such as museums and Symphony
  Theater
• Habitat for Humanity, supply products for homes
• Through products and services to individuals who
  may be denied elsewhere

27
Company Support Economic Development (New River
Valley)
Comments Cont

• Open our doors to companies interested in
  locating here pay a lot in taxes
• Belongs to downtown merchants of Blacksburg
• Support activities through New River Valley
  Economic Development Alliance
• Members of Christiansburg and Montgomery chamber
  of commerce

28
Conclusions

• General population supports growth and sees it as
  important
• Business leaders support it even more
• New River Valley businesses see Roanoke Valley
  arts as important

29
Conclusions Cont

• General population and business leaders believe
  it is important that our two regions work
  together and promote themselves as one
• But they dont see it happening!