What are your needs?

Every three years, GROW South Dakota conducts a Needs Assessment Survey to determine what residents see as the most important issues in GROW SD’s service area. The agency uses the findings in its planning for the future.

GROW SD invites area residents to complete the survey, which can be found at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TFFK6CJ. It only takes a few minutes to complete. The organization hopes to receive 500 survey responses this year.

In 2016, GROW SD received more than 375 responses to its needs assessment survey. That survey provided interesting information to inform planning. One question asked respondents how certain topics ranked as needs in their community. Home improvements, rental housing or rental assistance, weatherization, business counseling, business loans, financial coaching, home loans, and homeownership education were seen as high or moderate needs by at least 60% of respondents.

Another question asked whether respondents agreed that their community provided various assets or services. Respondents strongly saw their communities as safe, friendly and having community pride—at least three quarters agreed in those areas. Just over 50% agreed that businesses met community needs.

The 2019 survey asks similar questions and seeks new information as well. “As a Community Action Agency receiving Community Services Block Grant funding, we are required to complete the three-year needs assessment,” GROW SD CEO Marcia Erickson said. “It helps us determine priorities and guides our planning.  It also provides us essential feedback on whether we are responding to needs that have already been identified.”