LEXINGTON, KY - There is nothing like the validation of consensus, gathered scientifically, to reassure community leaders that they have been on the right track as they have invested uncountable hours, immeasurable brainpower and draining energies to the task of placing Lexington on course for competitive 21st century economic development.
Lexington residents rank "social offerings" (fun places to gather) as one of the most important factors in connecting them to their hometown, according to research conducted by the Gallup organization for the John S. And James L. Knight Foundation. Openness (how welcoming a place is) and basic services (community infrastructure) rounded out Lexington's top three assets in the view of its residents.
The three-year "Soul of the Community Study" commissioned by the philanthropic organization to probe the emotional factors that bind people to place is now into its second year. The study was designed to explore the connection between economic growth and residents' emotional attachment to their community. The latest results suggest a significant correlation between the two.
"This study supports what Lexington residents see as qualities important to them and echoes what we hear in the community about needing more places to come together," said Laura Williams, Lexington program director for Knight Foundation.
The study also found that education (particularly colleges and universities) and aesthetics (particularly the natural setting) are perceived as community strengths.
As previous, less formal studies have indicated, however, social offerings also were seen as in need of improvement.
That finding supports the results of a joint study undertaken by Lexmark and Toyota and presented to the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council in November 2008. The two major area employers needed to find out why they were experiencing difficulties in recruiting and retaining minority professionals. Recognizing that their customers are not homogeneous, the companies understood that employing diverse, creative talent is critical to their abilities to meet the wants and needs of a diverse customer base - that diversity is fundamental to long-term success.
They approached the problem not as a social issue but as a business challenge, with the premise that Lexington was perceived as not particularly welcoming of minorities. As part of their work, they held discussions with young professionals among their workforces. The results came as a surprise: not one mentioned racial issues as a top factor in their views of the Lexington community. All, however, cited a need for more entertainment options - more cultural programs, live music and festivals - a more robust and welcoming downtown area, more affordable downtown housing and better sources of information about places to dine and enjoy music and the arts.
These conclusions propelled the work of a Downtown Entertainment Development Task Force, authorized by Vice Mayor Jim Gray.
Only in recent months, and despite an as yet rocky economy, the Lexington nightlife scene has seen significant developments with the opening of many new music venues, the expansion of others and renovation work on the Lyric Theater.
"We've heard this for a couple of years. We need places to get together. We need entertainment venues, and I think we've been working hard on that. We know this is an issue, and this is data that supports that and some of the work that we've been doing," said Williams.
Openness and basic services also were seen as needing improvement. In particular, while residents rated the Lexington area as significantly more open for families with young children - making them the group seen as most-welcomed - they see it as least welcoming to immigrants, an area where ratings significantly dropped in 2009. They also rate affordable housing lowest among the basic services. While residents rated nightlife significantly higher in 2009, they continue to see residents caring for each other as a relatively weak area. In 2009, however, residents of Lexington rated the area as significantly more welcoming to senior citizens than in 2008.
Not surprisingly, ratings of the local economy dropped significantly in 2009, however the economy still was not an important factor in determining residents' emotional connection to the area. Civic involvement (due primarily to an increase in voting for the presidential election) was up significantly in 2009.
The study found that residents who feel a strong emotional connection to their community are more likely to be older, long-term, retired and home-owning residents. Those least likely to feel emotionally attached are younger, mid-tenure, rural-dwelling and middle-educated residents.
"The findings are particularly important in a globalized economy made more competitive by the economic crisis," said Paula Ellis, Knight Foundation's vice president for strategic initiatives. "Local leaders, urban planners and residents can use the study's results to better understand their community.
"We hope that the information helps places like Lexington fight for the innovative, creative and productive talent needed to build healthy communities."
Lexington can use the data to inform a new vision for the city. Leaders will not only be able to promote that vision to residents, but also to the more than 600,000 visitors expected at next year's Creative Cities Summit and the 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games, Williams said.
"We also can use the survey to continue the momentum created by the Knight-funded Legacy Center at the Blue Grass Community Foundation around community-driven initiatives such as the Legacy Trail and the revitalization of the 3rd Street Corridor," she said.
The Soul of the Community study was conducted by Gallup in 26 cities. The intent was to gather information for use by civic leaders and residents to make decisions that will influence residents' feelings about their hometowns and to help communities thrive.