The survey of our lives – LIFE Study combines data from three communities

BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY leaders are always quick to tout the region’s high quality of life. A first-of-its-kind study pulling together information and data from three New North metro areas takes a hard look at the region and its strengths and weaknesses.

The 2011 LIFE (Leading Indicators For Excellence) study examined 10 key indicators for economic, physical and emotional well-being in a four-county region including Brown, Calumet, Outagamie and Winnebago. The study surveyed about 1,100 residents and 900 community leaders in the region.

“This study has been a great example of community-based participatory research,” says Margie Weiss, chair of the Fox Cities Life Study steering committee. Oshkosh and Green Bay had their own steering committees with a final report bringing together information from all three.

During the study, about 70 percent of residents and more than 90 percent of community leaders were either satisfied or very satisfied with their quality of life in the region.

While many strengths of the communities were identified, such as good schools, affordable living and safety, the study also noted weaknesses, including employment wages, access to health care, youth health and unemployment.

Weiss says a lot of these challenges or areas of improvement are trends throughout the nation and that our area has been somewhat insulated from some of these trends.

“Earning power has just gone down in these economic times and I think some are skeptical about hiring right now,” she says. “A study like this recognizes that all aspects of community life are so interdependent. It is apparent that a good education will get you a good paying job which gets you good healthcare which in turn provides good quality of life.”

For others in the communities evaluated by the 2011 Life Study, the areas outlined provide an endless wealth of information for businesses and residents alike.

“All of the issues outlined in this report are important to our community,” says Nan Nelson, executive vice president of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. “As an organization, the chamber will be using the Life Study in our strategic planning.”

Nelson notes the study results will be useful to companies who are doing market research on the region providing a better understanding of their client base and attract companies.

Non-profit organizations use the Life Study, which is conducted every five years, to map out different initiatives. For example, the last Life Study identified that finding transportation to and from work was a barrier for a segment of the population. The United Way of the Fox Cities and other community partners created The Connector, which helps fill in the public transportation gaps.

Funding for the study was provided by the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, Brown County United Way, Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region, Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Fox Cities Economic Development Partnership, Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, Oshkosh Area United Way and the US Venture Open Fund for Basic Needs.