Jonesboro Community Stakeholder Survey

Jonesboro Unlimited, the region’s economic development organization, is creating a new five-year strategic plan. To ensure the plan reflects the community’s needs and priorities, we’ve launched an online survey to gather input from stakeholders across the region. The survey is being conducted by VisionFirst Advisors, our project consultant.

Your voice matters. The feedback you share will help shape the goals, strategies and measures that guide economic development in Jonesboro—so the community can better serve residents, businesses and visitors today and in the years ahead.

The survey takes less than 10 minutes to complete and will close on October 30. Thank you for taking the time to participate in this important effort.

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* 1. How would you rate Jonesboro as:

	Poor	Fair	Good	Excellent
A place to live and raise a family	A place to live and raise a family Poor	A place to live and raise a family Fair	A place to live and raise a family Good	A place to live and raise a family Excellent
A place with affordable housing options	A place with affordable housing options Poor	A place with affordable housing options Fair	A place with affordable housing options Good	A place with affordable housing options Excellent
A place to work and find a job	A place to work and find a job Poor	A place to work and find a job Fair	A place to work and find a job Good	A place to work and find a job Excellent
A safe community	A safe community Poor	A safe community Fair	A safe community Good	A safe community Excellent
A community with good healthcare and wellness options	A community with good healthcare and wellness options Poor	A community with good healthcare and wellness options Fair	A community with good healthcare and wellness options Good	A community with good healthcare and wellness options Excellent
A place for recreation	A place for recreation Poor	A place for recreation Fair	A place for recreation Good	A place for recreation Excellent
A tourism destination	A tourism destination Poor	A tourism destination Fair	A tourism destination Good	A tourism destination Excellent
A welcoming community where newcomers feel connected	A welcoming community where newcomers feel connected Poor	A welcoming community where newcomers feel connected Fair	A welcoming community where newcomers feel connected Good	A welcoming community where newcomers feel connected Excellent

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* 2. Where would you like to see Jonesboro in five years? (Please rank in order of priority)

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* 3. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement about the Jonesboro economy?

	Disagree	Somewhat Disagree	Neutral	Somewhat Agree	Agree
Everyone has the same chance to succeed economically.	Everyone has the same chance to succeed economically. Disagree	Everyone has the same chance to succeed economically. Somewhat Disagree	Everyone has the same chance to succeed economically. Neutral	Everyone has the same chance to succeed economically. Somewhat Agree	Everyone has the same chance to succeed economically. Agree
Pay is enough for people to live comfortably.	Pay is enough for people to live comfortably. Disagree	Pay is enough for people to live comfortably. Somewhat Disagree	Pay is enough for people to live comfortably. Neutral	Pay is enough for people to live comfortably. Somewhat Agree	Pay is enough for people to live comfortably. Agree
Anyone who wants a job can find one.	Anyone who wants a job can find one. Disagree	Anyone who wants a job can find one. Somewhat Disagree	Anyone who wants a job can find one. Neutral	Anyone who wants a job can find one. Somewhat Agree	Anyone who wants a job can find one. Agree
Education and job training are available for those who need them.	Education and job training are available for those who need them. Disagree	Education and job training are available for those who need them. Somewhat Disagree	Education and job training are available for those who need them. Neutral	Education and job training are available for those who need them. Somewhat Agree	Education and job training are available for those who need them. Agree
Businesses in Jonesboro are growing.	Businesses in Jonesboro are growing. Disagree	Businesses in Jonesboro are growing. Somewhat Disagree	Businesses in Jonesboro are growing. Neutral	Businesses in Jonesboro are growing. Somewhat Agree	Businesses in Jonesboro are growing. Agree
It’s easy for new businesses to start and succeed.	It’s easy for new businesses to start and succeed. Disagree	It’s easy for new businesses to start and succeed. Somewhat Disagree	It’s easy for new businesses to start and succeed. Neutral	It’s easy for new businesses to start and succeed. Somewhat Agree	It’s easy for new businesses to start and succeed. Agree
Local government and businesses work well together on projects.	Local government and businesses work well together on projects. Disagree	Local government and businesses work well together on projects. Somewhat Disagree	Local government and businesses work well together on projects. Neutral	Local government and businesses work well together on projects. Somewhat Agree	Local government and businesses work well together on projects. Agree
There’s a good mix of different types of employers here.	There’s a good mix of different types of employers here. Disagree	There’s a good mix of different types of employers here. Somewhat Disagree	There’s a good mix of different types of employers here. Neutral	There’s a good mix of different types of employers here. Somewhat Agree	There’s a good mix of different types of employers here. Agree

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* 4. What should Jonesboro focus on to grow and improve the economy? (Please rank in order of priority)

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* 5. What do you see as Jonesboro's greatest strengths and biggest weaknesses?

	Weakness	Not a Strength	Strength	Substantial Strength
Affordability	Affordability Weakness	Affordability Not a Strength	Affordability Strength	Affordability Substantial Strength
Ease of doing business/regulatory environment	Ease of doing business/regulatory environment Weakness	Ease of doing business/regulatory environment Not a Strength	Ease of doing business/regulatory environment Strength	Ease of doing business/regulatory environment Substantial Strength
Available sites/buildings for new industry or expansions	Available sites/buildings for new industry or expansions Weakness	Available sites/buildings for new industry or expansions Not a Strength	Available sites/buildings for new industry or expansions Strength	Available sites/buildings for new industry or expansions Substantial Strength
Workforce skills and availability	Workforce skills and availability Weakness	Workforce skills and availability Not a Strength	Workforce skills and availability Strength	Workforce skills and availability Substantial Strength
Workforce costs	Workforce costs Weakness	Workforce costs Not a Strength	Workforce costs Strength	Workforce costs Substantial Strength
Quality of life amenities	Quality of life amenities Weakness	Quality of life amenities Not a Strength	Quality of life amenities Strength	Quality of life amenities Substantial Strength
Tax environment	Tax environment Weakness	Tax environment Not a Strength	Tax environment Strength	Tax environment Substantial Strength
Connectivity – location, traffic and roadways	Connectivity – location, traffic and roadways Weakness	Connectivity – location, traffic and roadways Not a Strength	Connectivity – location, traffic and roadways Strength	Connectivity – location, traffic and roadways Substantial Strength
Support for existing industry growth and expansion	Support for existing industry growth and expansion Weakness	Support for existing industry growth and expansion Not a Strength	Support for existing industry growth and expansion Strength	Support for existing industry growth and expansion Substantial Strength
Technical support of entrepreneurs and small business	Technical support of entrepreneurs and small business Weakness	Technical support of entrepreneurs and small business Not a Strength	Technical support of entrepreneurs and small business Strength	Technical support of entrepreneurs and small business Substantial Strength
Education (public and private)	Education (public and private) Weakness	Education (public and private) Not a Strength	Education (public and private) Strength	Education (public and private) Substantial Strength
Opportunities for higher education including technical training	Opportunities for higher education including technical training Weakness	Opportunities for higher education including technical training Not a Strength	Opportunities for higher education including technical training Strength	Opportunities for higher education including technical training Substantial Strength
Start-up business support	Start-up business support Weakness	Start-up business support Not a Strength	Start-up business support Strength	Start-up business support Substantial Strength
Crime and personal safety	Crime and personal safety Weakness	Crime and personal safety Not a Strength	Crime and personal safety Strength	Crime and personal safety Substantial Strength
Housing options (rental and home ownership)	Housing options (rental and home ownership) Weakness	Housing options (rental and home ownership) Not a Strength	Housing options (rental and home ownership) Strength	Housing options (rental and home ownership) Substantial Strength
Organized business leadership	Organized business leadership Weakness	Organized business leadership Not a Strength	Organized business leadership Strength	Organized business leadership Substantial Strength
A shared vision of where Jonesboro is going	A shared vision of where Jonesboro is going Weakness	A shared vision of where Jonesboro is going Not a Strength	A shared vision of where Jonesboro is going Strength	A shared vision of where Jonesboro is going Substantial Strength

Other (please specify)

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* 6. What type of new businesses and industry do you want to see in Jonesboro? (Check all that apply.)

Advanced manufacturing/light industry (distribution/warehousing operations, advanced manufacturing, etc.)

Service providers (medical, financial, higher education, etc.)

Office/professional services (call centers, accounting, financial services, etc.)

Advanced agriculture

Retail/shopping

Home-grown/local entrepreneurial businesses

Tourism

Restaurant/food service, including expanded dining and entertainment options

None, I prefer to keep the existing level of business and industry

Other (please specify)

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* 7. What should be the top priority for economic development? Rank in order of importance.

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* 8. What do you see as the top reasons a company would start, locate or expand in Jonesboro? Select three.

Qualified talent pool

Lower operating costs

Local incentives

Housing, healthcare and education infrastructure

State tax policies

Lower cost of living

Location

Quality and cost of utilities

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* 9. How long have you been a resident of Jonesboro/Craighead County?

Less than 1 year

1 – 5 years

6 – 10 years

11 – 15 years

16 – 25 years

25+ years

I’m not a resident of Jonesboro/Craighead County

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* 10. What is your age?

18 – 24

25 – 34

35 – 44

45 – 54

55 – 64

65 and Over

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* 11. What level of education have you completed?

Some High School, No Diploma

High School Graduate

Associate Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree or Higher

Trade/Technical/Vocational Training

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* 12. What is your employment status?

Full-Time

Part-Time

Seeking Opportunities Currently

Retired

Prefer Not to Say

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* 13. What is your current living situation?

I own my home.

I rent a house.

I rent an apartment.

I live with family or friends (not paying rent).

I live in a mobile home or manufactured home.

I live in a retirement or senior living community.

Other (please specify)

Jonesboro Community Stakeholder Survey

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* 1. How would you rate Jonesboro as:

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* 2. Where would you like to see Jonesboro in five years? (Please rank in order of priority)

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* 3. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the statement about the Jonesboro economy?

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* 4. What should Jonesboro focus on to grow and improve the economy? (Please rank in order of priority)

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* 5. What do you see as Jonesboro's greatest strengths and biggest weaknesses?

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* 6. What type of new businesses and industry do you want to see in Jonesboro? (Check all that apply.)

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* 7. What should be the top priority for economic development? Rank in order of importance.

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* 8. What do you see as the top reasons a company would start, locate or expand in Jonesboro? Select three.

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* 9. How long have you been a resident of Jonesboro/Craighead County?

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* 10. What is your age?

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* 11. What level of education have you completed?

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* 12. What is your employment status?

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* 13. What is your current living situation?

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* 14. If you left Jonesboro and didn't return for five years, what would you want to see different about the community when you returned in 2030?