April 7, 2025: Grand Traverse County Invites Residents to Participate in The National Community Survey

Results From the Survey Will Be Released Later This Summer as Part of Grand Traverse County’s 2025 Livability Report

Beginning this week, 3,000 randomly selected households throughout Grand Traverse County will receive an invitation to participate in the County’s National Community Survey (NCS).  Residents have until May 9, 2025 to complete the survey either by going online or by filling out the postage-paid paper form. Results from the NCS are used to develop a report for measuring several factors about the local community related to health, safety, and overall livability of the area.  This is the third time since 2020 the County has sponsored the survey in order to engage residents, track trends over time, and collect data from residents that can be used to better inform County policies and decision-making.  

Nate Alger, Grand Traverse County Administrator, comments, “The NCS is a powerful tool that helps the County gauge public perception and enables us to gather community feedback on significant issues that impact residents ranging from the walkability of the community, availability of housing and childcare, economic opportunity in our area, and government transparency.”

All Residents of Grand Traverse County Can Participate beginning April 17, 2025

In addition to the randomized sample, Grand Traverse County is encouraging all residents to participate.  Beginning April 17, the County will publish an online version of the survey that will provide an opportunity for all residents to provide their input.  A link to the public survey will be shared on the Grand Traverse County website and Facebook page when it opens later this month. This Survey Link https://polco.us/gtc25op will be activated on April 17, 2025.

About the National Community Survey

The NCS is a comprehensive survey that gauges residents’ opinions on various dimensions of community life, including public safety, local government services, infrastructure, economy, and quality of life. It provides local governments with an in-depth understanding of how their residents perceive the community and its governance.

The survey is designed to be statistically valid, ensuring that the results accurately represent the population as a whole. Conducted regularly, The NCS allows counties, cities, and towns to track changes in public sentiment over time and benchmark their performance against other municipalities.

2022 Community Report – Grand Traverse County

Since 2020, Grand Traverse County has been utilizing the NCS Survey results to track trends in public perception on important community issues.  This unique tool provides insightful, anonymous information from the community that helps inform County decision-making.  

2022 Report Highlights

  • Grand Traverse County scored extremely well in public safety, with residents feeling safe in their neighborhoods and commercial areas throughout the county.
  • Supporting families – The report identified that respondents felt that Grand Traverse County was a positive place to raise kids.
  • Grand Traverse County’s natural environment rated very high among respondents
  • Mobility, affordability, and government transparency were all identified as areas of concern.  

The most recent survey and report can be found on the Grand Traverse County’s website (https://www.gtcountymi.gov/2400/Community-Engagement).