NOTE: In the first question of the survey the respondents were presented a list and asked to check which goods and services they currently use locally. Their answers are summarized in the top graph. The next three questions were open-ended and elicited a wide variety of responses. Due to space constraints, only those listed on ten or more surveys are shown in the graphs here. They asked and you answered. And your answers showed your strong opinions and how much you care about your community.

“They” are the Staples Business Group and the Staples Downtown Revitalization Board (SDRB). In November they distributed

a survey - remember

the bright green forms? - seeking information on

products and services you currently use, which are missing and how the retail and service sectors can be improved.

The forms were on counters in businesses in Staples; they were inserted into the Staples World; they were distributed at Central Lakes College and at Lakewood Health System.

When the results were tallied, they found that 780 of you responded to the five questions with specifi c suggestions and many comments.

The survey was not scientifically designed or executed. However, the sponsors believe they found what they were seeking, a “collection of perceptions.”

“What I got (from the responses) is we need to market and advertise what we already have,” said Mary Stangle-Hess, cochair of the Staples Business Group. “We had 780 surveys returned. Now we have to decide what to do with the information.”

Stangle-Hess was pre- senting the results to the SDRB where the discussion centered on what steps to take.

Representatives from the Staples Business Group, SDRB, Staples Motley Area Chamber of Commerce and Staples Economic Development Authority will meet within the next few weeks to review the results in depth.

They will develop some specific goals and action plans for improvements to be presented at a community meeting.

Another approach will be to publish a series of guest editorials in the Staples World. Each editorial will deal with a different topic from the survey.

They also plan to make presentations to various community groups, like the Lions clubs, Rotary club, schools and churches.

The comments covered the range from positive to negative. One respondent wrote “I feel there is no hope for improvement.”

However, another wrote, “I am very proud of our hometown. Sure, we have challenges, but we are also blessed with many opportunities. Other small towns don’t have such things as a college, several parks, a community center, two grocery stores, lots of churches, a newspaper, a theater, great school system, a new library and much more! Many volunteers give tirelessly to the community.”

Many others had more specific suggestions. A sampling includes:

o Keep improving Main Street. o Don’t forget about the south side of town. o Clothing/shoe store o Bowling alley o Entertainment for under 21 year olds o More dining options “Chinese food, man!” o No need for more dining options or liquor stores.

o We use and appreciate the services in town.

The results are split into the three major sectors surveyed. Lakewood Health System returned 289 surveys, Central Lakes College returned 287 surveys and residential (local counters and Staples World inserts) returned 204 surveys.

Combining all the surveys, 490 were completed by women and 256 by men. Thirty-four did not identify their gender.

The age groups for respondents were fairly evenly split except for the nine under 17 years old. In the 18-25 category were 213 responses; 26-35 had 132, 36-55 had 133 and over 55 had 174. Nineteen did not identify their age.

Breaking these demographics into the three sectors found these results:

Residential:

o 64.2 percent female, 27.9 percent male and 7.8 percent unidentified.

o 3.9 percent under 17 years old, two percent 18-25, 4.4 percent 26-35, 23.5 percent 36-55 and 62.3 percent over 55. Four percent were unidentified.

Central Lakes College

o 37.3 percent female, 57.8 percent male and 4.9 percent unidentified.

o One third of a percent under 17 years old, 63.1 percent 18-25, 18.1 percent 26-35, 13.9 percent 36-55 and 1.7 percent over 55. Three percent were unidentified.

Lakewood Health System

o 87.2 percent female, 11.4 percent male and 1.4 percent unidentified.

o No one was under 17 years old, 9.7 percent 18-25, 24.6 percent 26-35, 50.2 percent 36-55 and 14.5 percent over 55. One percent was unidentified.

For more information about the survey results email staplesbusinessgroup@yahoo.com or call Mary at 218-894- 1010 or Lee at 218-894-3974.