The document summarizes key findings from a community survey on economic development priorities in Battle Creek, Michigan. It provides details on the demographic characteristics of the survey sample and their priorities. The top three priorities reported for jobs/careers were increasing jobs with benefits, job training, and increasing wages. For preparing community members, the top priorities were apprenticeship/internship opportunities, access to financial aid for college/training, and improving K-12 education. Analysis by race, income, and age showed some differences in priority rankings within groups.

1. Battle Creek
Summary of
#BCvision Survey

2. 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.

3. 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)

4. About the Sample
• 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)

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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)

8. 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).

9. COMPARISON OF SURVEY SAMPLE TO COMMUNITY AT
LARGE

10. 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)

11. #BC Vision
Community
Engagement Survey
Battle Creek, city
2010 Census
Calhoun County
2010 Census
African-American 9.41% 18.2% 11.1%
American
Indian/Native Alaskan
1.4% 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%

12. #BC Vision
Community
Engagement Survey
Battle Creek, city
2010 Census
Calhoun County
2010 Census
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% -- --

13. #BC Vision
Community
Engagement Survey
Battle Creek, city
2010 Census
Calhoun County
2010 Census
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% -- --

14. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD YOU IDENTIFY AS THE
MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS TO TAKE RELATED TO JOBS
AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY?

15. 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)

16. 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 priority
should 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.

17. 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
1 2 3
advancement once employed
Job training 2 1 2 2 2 1
Increase wages 1 2 3 1 3
Increase the number of jobs with
3 1 1
benefits
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
business
3
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 employment
3
Recruit outside talent

18. Which of the following would you identify as the most
important actions to take related to jobs and career
opportunities in the community?
• 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.

19. 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
Increase the number of jobs with
3 3 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
benefits
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 history
3
Access to different types of
jobs/diverse sectors for
employment

20. Which of the following would you identify as the most
important actions to take related to jobs and career
opportunities in the community?
• 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.

21. 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
Increase the number of jobs with
2 3 2 1 1 1
benefits
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
business
3
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
Access to different types of
3
jobs/Diverse sectors for employment
Recruit outside talent

22. WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD YOU IDENTIFY AS THE
MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS TO TAKE TO PREPARE OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR COLLEGE OR EMPLOYMENT?

23. 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).

24. 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.

25. African
American
American
Indian or
Alaska
Native
Asian/Pacifi
c Islander
Burmese Caucasian Hispanic or
Latino
Japanese Native
Hawaiian
More mentors/academic role models 1 3 1
Apprenticeship/internship opportunities
in skilled trades
3 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 training
1 2 1 2 3 1 1
Better K-12 education, leading to
higher graduation rates
2 2 2 2 3 1
More help with tutoring
More extracurricular opportunities
Begin college preparation planning
earlier in the curriculum
1 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

26. Which of the following would you identify as the most
important actions to take related to jobs and career
opportunities in the community?
• 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.
 Opportunities for apprenticeships, improving
education, and scholarships were important across
the income spectrum.

27. 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 trades
2 1 3 2 1 1 1 2
Inform parents about the steps for
college preparation so they can
support and guide their kids
2
Access to scholarship/financial
aid for college/job training
1 2 1 1 2 3 3 2 3
Better K-12 education, leading to
higher graduation rates
3 2 3 3 2 2 1 1
More help with tutoring 1
More extracurricular
opportunities
3
Begin college preparation
planning earlier in the curriculum
3 3
More career exploration
opportunities, leading to higher
associate/bachelor-level talent
More leadership development
opportunities
Access to GED preparation
Quality preschool opportunities
for all children

28. Which of the following would you identify as the most
important actions to take related to jobs and career
opportunities in the community?
• 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.
 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.

29. 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 trades
3 1 1 1 1
Inform parents about the steps for
college preparation so they can support
and guide their kids
3
Access to scholarship/financial aid for
college/job training
1 1 1 1 2 3 3 3
Better K-12 Education, leading to
higher graduation rates
3 3 2 2 3 2 2 2
More help with tutoring
More extracurricular opportunities
Begin college preparation planning
earlier in the curriculum
3 2
More career exploration opportunities,
leading to higher associate/bachelor
level talent
3
More leadership development
opportunities
Access to GED preparation
Quality preschool opportunities for all
children.

30. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR BATTLE CREEK TO
BE A THRIVING CITY WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE,
WORK, AND PLAY?

31. 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).

32. 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.

33. African
American
American
Indian or
Alaska
Native
Asian/Pacifi
c Islander
Burmese Caucasian Hispanic or
Latino
Japanese Native
Hawaiian
Having a variety of affordable
recreational activities
3 2 3 3 2 2 2
Having good infrastructure 2 3
More opportunities for residents to be
involved and have a voice
3
Adopting a culture of appreciation for
academic excellence
1 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 diversity
3 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 needs
3
Having a strong sense of community
unity and togetherness
3 3 3
Good housing opportunities

34. 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 Income
 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.

35. 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
Having a variety of affordable
recreational activities
3 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
Having more diverse community
leadership
Having lots of opportunities for
many people to be leaders.
Being a community that actively
embraces its diversity
Having a variety of local
businesses
3 3 3
Having an active and lively
downtown
3 2 2 2 2 2 2 1
Having strong social services to
support all in meeting basic needs
3
Having a strong sense of
2

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

37. 14 and
younger
15-19 20-20 30-39 40-49 50-59 60-69 70 and
older
14 and
younger
Having a variety of affordable
recreational activities
1 2 3 3 3
Having good infrastructure 3
More opportunities for residents to
2
be involved and have a voice
Adopting a culture of appreciation
for academic excellence.
Safe neighborhoods 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Having more diverse community
leadership
Having lots of opportunities for
3
many people to be leaders.
Being a community that actively
embraces its diversity
Having a variety of local businesses 3 3
Having an active and lively
downtown
3 3 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
Having strong social services to
support all in meeting basic needs
Having a strong sense of community
unity and togetherness
3 2
Good housing opportunities

38. 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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