TROY - From November 28, 2021 through December 2, 2021 residents of Troy were encouraged to fill out an online survey which broadly gauged their thoughts and feelings about the Troy community.
Right Track or Wrong Track
Individuals were asked whether they felt the nation, the state and the community were headed on the right track, the wrong direction or whether they were unsure.
The Nation:
Right Track - 21.95% Wrong Track - 62.20% Unsure - 15.85%
The State:
Right Track - 25.61% Wrong Track - 45.12% Unsure - 29.27%
The Community:
Right Track - 34.15% Wrong Track - 42.68% Unsure - 23.17%
A majority of participants believed that the nation headed in the wrong direction. Numbers improved slightly as the focus became more granular, though a plurality of participants believed that both the state and the community were headed in the wrong direction.
Hope for the Future
Participants were asked how hopeful they were that conditions would change in the community over the next year. While most respondents felt that conditions would improve, that is not a strong sentiment. Nearly 38% of respondents felt Extremely or Somewhat Confident that conditions would change, however, 29% felt that there would be no change and 33% felt that things would probably or certainly become worse over the next year.
Do you feel confident that your community would be better off one year from now?
Extremely Confident - 4.88%
Somewhat Confident - 32.93%
No Change in One Year - 29.27%
Somewhat not confident, things will probably get worse - 18.29%
Not Confident at all, things will get worse - 14.63%
Challenges and Attributes
Challenges
Respondents were asked to provide what they believed were the three greatest challenges facing the community. Over 210 written responses were recorded and put into the following general categories: City Administration, Barriers to Employment, Covid-19, Crime and Public Safety, Diversity, Education, Historic Preservation, Jobs and Workforce Development, Leadership, Macro-Economic Concerns (Gas Prices, Inflation), Mental and Physical Health, Political Divisions, Poverty, Streets/Sidewalks/Infrastructure, and Urban Sprawl and Development Concerns.
The categories were created based on the amount of responses given and the subject matter contained within the responses. Of all categories, there were three categories that were seen in at least 10% of all responses.
Leadership was reported in 15.42% of all responses, making this category the largest reported challenge the community is facing. Some of the comments received included:
Community has incorrect priorities
Sparsely communicated strategic plan
Lack of competent leadership
Barriers to Employment and Jobs and Workforce Development both were mentioned in 10.28% of all responses. Most of the comments received in the Barriers to Employment category revolved around “Transportation” and “Child Care”. Comments received in Jobs and Workforce Development included:
Lack of Workforce
Shortage of Workers
Unfilled Jobs
Attributes
Respondents were also asked to provide what they believed were the three greatest attributes of the community. Over 220 written responses were recorded and put into the following general categories: Activities and Events, Citizens and Neighbors, Business Community, Community Appearance, Community Culture, Diversity, Downtown, Economic Opportunity, Historic and Iconic Buildings, Leadership, Natural Features and Location, Non-Profit Community, Public Amenities and Services, Safety, and Youth and Education.
Within these categories, four categories received responses from at least 10% of all participants.
Community Culture was present in 12.72% of all responses. Typical responses for community Community Culture included:
Old Fashioned American Culture and Values
Great Community Spirit
Small-town Feel
Our community’s Downtown and Business Community were also seen as strong community attributes as both were mentioned in 10.96% of comments received. Community Appearance was noted in 10.52% of all comments received.
Community Awareness
All participants of the survey reported that they have some awareness of issues facing the community.
How aware are you of issues facing your community?
Extremely Aware - 25.30%
Very Aware - 46.99%
Somewhat Aware - 27.71%
Community Affinity
When asked, over 83% of all respondents indicated that they either loved or liked the community.
How do you feel about your community?
I love my community - 50.60%
I like my community - 33.73%
I have no emotional attachment to my community - 8.43%
I do not like my community - 4.82%
I loathe my community - 2.41%
Survey Participants and Margin of Error
The survey was completed by 86 individuals. At a 90% confidence level, the margin of error for the survey is 9%.
