Summary of

#BCvision Survey

Battle Creek

Purpose
The purpose of this survey was to provide the
community with an opportunity to offer their
input on priorities for action related to
community economic development.

About the Sample

The sample was:
60% female (n = 1,376)
39% male (n=901)
.44% other/transgendered (n=10)

Respondents reported their ages as follows:

23% were 50-59 (n=541)

21% were 30-39 (n=487)
20% were 40-49 (n=467)
12% were 20-20 (n=269)
10% were 60-69 (n=229)
9% were 15-19 (n=209)
3% were 70 and older (n=69)
Less than 1% was 14 and under (n=16)

About the Sample

The sample reported their race/ethnicity as:

67% Caucasian (n = 1,526)

13% Hispanic or Latino (n=298)
10% African American (n=216)
2% Asian/Pacific Islander, Burmese, Japanese, or
Hawaiian (n=72)
1% American Indian or Alaska Native (n=31)
2% identified as other (n=45)
7% preferred not to answer (n=162)

About the Sample

Respondents reported their employment status as
follows:

69% were employed full time (n = 1,580)

10% were employed part-time (n=219)
7% were retired (n=154)
6% were not employed, looking for work (n=132)
4% were not employed, not looking for work (n=98)
2% were disabled, unable to work (n=40)

Of those employed:
69% were employed in business (n=1,279)
20% worked in nonprofits (n=369)
11% (200) worked in government

About the Sample

The sample was made up of 50% residents of
the City of Battle Creek (n=1,155)

12% lived in Kalamazoo County (n=279)

7% lived in Emmett Township (n=159)
6% lived in Pennfield Township (n=138)
3% lived in City of Springfield (n=66)
17% lived in other locations (e.g., Marshall,
Bellevue, Lakeview, Leroy Township) (n=380)

About the Sample

19% preferred not to report their household income (n=417)

16% of respondents between $100,000-$149,999 (n=363)
15% earn $75,000-$99,999 (n=330)
14% earn $50,000-$74,999 (n=308)
8% earn $35,000-$49,999 (n=185)
5% earn $25,000-$34,999 (n=119)
5% earn $15,000-$24,999 (n=107)
5% earn $20,000 or more (n=108)
4% earn $10,000 or less (n=87)
3% earn $10,000-$14,999 (n=66)

Method
Community members received solicitations
through the mail and online.
Surveys were available online and through a
social media link.
Data collection was initiated on October 24 and
closed on November 10.
Efforts were made to reach non-English speaking
community members. Paper versions of the
survey were available in Spanish (n = 252) and
Burmese (n = 4).

COMPARISON OF SURVEY SAMPLE TO COMMUNITY AT

LARGE

Summary
The racial/ethnic demographics of the survey indicated:
African Americans were underrepresented, while
Hispanic/Latinos and Native Americans were overrepresented.
The White sample was consistent with the percentage of the
population in Battle Creek.

The survey sample overrepresented those at the highest

income levels and underrepresented those making less
than $75,000.
The sample was largely middle aged and underrepresented
younger demographic segments (Below 29 years of age)

#BC Vision
Community
Engagement Survey

Battle Creek, city

Calhoun County

2010 Census

2010 Census

African-American

9.41%

18.2%

11.1%

American
Indian/Native Alaskan

1.4%

0.7%

0.7%

Asian/Pacific Islander

2.8%

2.4%

2.0%

Caucasian

67.6%

68.6%

79.3%

Hispanic or Latino

13.11%

6.7%

4.7%

Other

1.96%

4.3%

3.1%

Prefer not to answer

7.14%

#BC Vision
Community
Engagement Survey

Battle Creek, city

Calhoun County

2010 Census

2010 Census

Less than $10,000

3.8%

7.9%

9.9%

$10,000 to $14,999

2.9%

6.6%

8.5%

$15,000 to $24,999

4.7%

15.1%

16.5%

$25,000 to $34,999

5.2%

12.9%

13.3%

$35,000 to $49,999

8.2%

15.7%

14.8%

$50,000 to $74,999

13.7%

17.8%

16.2%

$75,000 to $99,999

14.8%

10.4%

8.3%

$100,000 to $149,999

16.3%

9.4%

7.7%

$150,000-$199,999

6.7%

2.6%

2.6%

$200,000 or more

4.9%

1.7%

2.1%

Prefer not to answer

18.6%

--

--

#BC Vision
Community
Engagement Survey

Battle Creek, city

Calhoun County

2010 Census

2010 Census

Under 14 years

0.7%

21.7%

19.8%

15 to 19 years

9.0%

7.1%

7.5%

20 to 29 years

11.7%

13.0%

12.0%

30 to 39 years

21.2%

13.1%

11.8%

40 to 49 years

20.2%

13.0%

13.7%

50 to 59 years

23.5%

13.4%

14.5%

60 to 69 years

10.0%

9.0%

10.2%

70 years or older

3.0%

9.6%

10.5%

Prefer not to answer

0.6%

--

--

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD YOU IDENTIFY AS THE

MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS TO TAKE RELATED TO JOBS
AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN THE COMMUNITY?

Which of the following would you identify as the most

important actions to take related to jobs and career
opportunities in the community?

The top three priorities for action related to

jobs and career opportunities for the entire
sample were:
Increase the number of jobs with benefits (41%,
n=977)
Job training (38%, n = 898)
Increase Wages (38%, n = 890)

Which of the following would you identify as most important

actions to take related to jobs and career opportunities in the
community?

Action Priorities by Race

An overview of top three priority rankings by race/ethnicity is
provided in the following table. Multiple rankings within racial
category indicates a tie.
Caucasians and Hispanic/Latinos reported the top priority
should be increasing the number of jobs with benefits.
African Americans and Burmese reported increased wages as
the top priority.
Both Hispanic/Latinos and Burmese included support to
improve English skills as on of the top three priorities.
Overall, African-American and Caucasian respondents endorsed
the same action priorities, although not in the same order.

African
American

American
Indian or
Alaska
Native

Asian/Pacifi
c Islander

Burmese

Caucasian

Hispanic or
Latino

Mentoring opportunities
Learning about opportunities for career
advancement once employed

Job training

Increase wages

Increase the number of jobs with

benefits

Native
Hawaiian

3
1

More family-friendly work policies

(like paid maternity leave, flexible
hours, etc.)

Japanese

More affordable and high-quality day

care options
Support for people who want to start a
business

Support to improve English skills (for

immigrants learning English)

Access to legal work authorization

Transportation

2
3

Jobs that are available to people with

prior criminal history
Access to different types of
jobs/diverse sectors for employment
Recruit outside talent

Which of the following would you identify as the most

important actions to take related to jobs and career
opportunities in the community?

Action Priorities by Income

An overview of top three priority rankings by
income is provided in the following table. Multiple
rankings within income category indicates a tie.
Across the income spectrum, job training,
increased wages, and increasing jobs with benefits
emerged as priorities.
Transportation and employment for those with
prior criminal histories also emerged as priorities
when analyzed by income.

Less
than
$10,000

$10,000
$14,999

$15,000
$24,999

$25,000
$34,999

$35,000
$49,999

$50,000
$74,999

$75,000
$99,999

$100,000
$149,999

$150,000
$199,999

$200,000
or more

Job training

Increase wages

Mentoring opportunities
Learning about opportunities for
career advancement once
employed

Increase the number of jobs with

benefits

3
1

More family-friendly work

policies (like paid maternity
leave, flexible hours, etc.)
More affordable and high-quality
day care options
Support for people who want to
start a business
Support to improve English skills
(for immigrants learning English)
Access to legal work
authorization
Transportation
Jobs that are available to people
with prior criminal history
Access to different types of
jobs/diverse sectors for

3
3

Which of the following would you identify as the most

important actions to take related to jobs and career
opportunities in the community?

Action Priorities by Age

An overview of top three priority rankings by age
is provided in the following table. Multiple
rankings within age category indicates a tie.
Increased wages are ranked in the top 3 for every
age group.
Increasing the number of jobs with benefits is a
priority for groups aged 20-70 and older.
20-29 and 30-39-year-olds list family-friendly
work policies as a top concern.

14 and
younger

15-19

Job training

Increase wages

20-20

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70 and
older

Mentoring opportunities
Learning about opportunities for career
advancement once employed

Increase the number of jobs with

benefits

More family-friendly work policies

(like paid maternity leave, flexible
hours, etc.)

More affordable and high quality day

care options
Support for people who want to start a
business

Support to improve English skills (for

immigrants learning English)
Access to legal work authorization
Transportation

Jobs that are available to people with

prior criminal history
Access to different types of
jobs/Diverse sectors for employment

WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD YOU IDENTIFY AS THE

MOST IMPORTANT ACTIONS TO TAKE TO PREPARE OUR
COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR COLLEGE OR EMPLOYMENT?

Which of the following would you identify as the most important actions
to take to prepare our community members for college or employment?

The top three priorities for college and

employment preparation for the entire sample
were:
Apprenticeship/internship opportunities in skilled
trades (46%, n = 1,090)
Access to scholarships/financial aid for college/job
training (44%, n = 1,042)
Better K-12 education, leading to higher
graduation rates (41%, n = 968).

Which of the following would you identify as the most important actions
to take to prepare our community members for college or employment?

Action Priorities by Race

An overview of top three priority rankings by race/ethnicity is
provided in the following table. Multiple rankings within racial
category indicates a tie.
African Americans and Hispanic/Latinos reported access to
scholarships/financial aid for college/job training was the top
priority.
Both Hispanic/Latinos and Burmese included informing
parents about the steps for college preparation as a one of the
top three priorities.
When analyzed by race, the majority of racial subgroups
ranked better K-12 education as one of three top priorities.
Overall, African Americans and Caucasians endorsed the same
action priorities, although not in the same order.

African
American

More mentors/academic role models

Apprenticeship/internship opportunities
in skilled trades

American
Indian or
Alaska
Native

Asian/Pacifi
c Islander

Burmese

Caucasian

Hispanic or
Latino

1
3

Inform parents about the steps for

college preparation so they can support
and guide their kids
Access to scholarship/financial aid for
college/job training

Better K-12 education, leading to

higher graduation rates

Japanese

Native
Hawaiian

1
2

More help with tutoring

More extracurricular opportunities
Begin college preparation planning
earlier in the curriculum
More career exploration opportunities,
leading to higher associate/bachelorlevel talent

2
3

More leadership development

opportunities
Access to GED preparation
Quality preschool opportunities for all
children

Which of the following would you identify as the most

important actions to take related to jobs and career
opportunities in the community?

Action Priorities by Income

An overview of top three priority rankings by
income is provided in the following table. Multiple
rankings within income category indicates a tie.
Opportunities for apprenticeships, improving
education, and scholarships were important across
the income spectrum.

Less
than
$10,000

$10,000
$14,999

$15,000
$24,999

$25,000
$34,999

$35,000
$49,999

$50,000
$74,999

$75,000
$99,999

$100,000
$149,999

$150,000
$199,999

$200,000
or more

More mentors/academic role

models
Apprenticeship/internship
opportunities in skilled trades
Inform parents about the steps for
college preparation so they can
support and guide their kids

Access to scholarship/financial
aid for college/job training

Better K-12 education, leading to

higher graduation rates

1
2

More help with tutoring

More extracurricular
opportunities

Begin college preparation

planning earlier in the curriculum
More career exploration
opportunities, leading to higher
associate/bachelor-level talent
More leadership development
opportunities
Access to GED preparation
Quality preschool opportunities
for all children

Which of the following would you identify as the most

important actions to take related to jobs and career
opportunities in the community?

Action Priorities by Age

An overview of top three priority rankings by age
is provided in the following table. Multiple
rankings within age category indicates a tie.
Access to scholarship/financial aid and better K12 education are listed as priorities across all age
groups.
Those who identify in age groups between 40-70
and older rank apprenticeship and internship
opportunities as a priority.

14 and
younger

More mentors/academic role models

15-19

20-20

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70 and
older

Apprenticeship/internship opportunities
in skilled trades
Inform parents about the steps for
college preparation so they can support
and guide their kids

Access to scholarship/financial aid for

college/job training

Better K-12 Education, leading to

higher graduation rates

Begin college preparation planning

earlier in the curriculum

More career exploration opportunities,

leading to higher associate/bachelor
level talent

More help with tutoring

More extracurricular opportunities

More leadership development

opportunities
Access to GED preparation
Quality preschool opportunities for all
children.

WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT FOR BATTLE CREEK TO

BE A THRIVING CITY WHERE PEOPLE WANT TO LIVE,
WORK, AND PLAY?

What is MOST important for Battle Creek to be a thriving city

where people want to live, work, and play?

The top three priorities for Battle Creek to be a

thriving community for the entire sample
were:
Safe neighborhoods (61%, n = 1,423).
Having an active and lively downtown (44%, n =
1,046).
Having a variety of affordable recreational
activities (34%, n = 800).

What is MOST important for Battle Creek to be a thriving city

where people want to live, work, and play?

Action Priorities by Race

An overview of top three priority rankings by race/ethnicity
is provided in the following table. Multiple rankings within
racial category indicates a tie.
African Americans and Caucasians reported that safe
neighborhoods should be the top priority.
African Americans and Caucasians reported that having a
lively downtown should be the second priority.
Both Hispanic/Latinos and Burmese subgroups prioritized
having a strong sense of community togetherness.

Having a variety of affordable

recreational activities

African
American

American
Indian or
Alaska
Native

Asian/Pacifi
c Islander

Having good infrastructure

Burmese

Caucasian

Hispanic or
Latino

Japanese

Native
Hawaiian

More opportunities for residents to be

involved and have a voice

Adopting a culture of appreciation for

academic excellence

Being a community that actively

embraces its diversity

Having a variety of local businesses

Safe neighborhoods

1
1

1
1

Having more diverse community

leadership
Having lots of opportunities for many
people to be leaders

Having an active and lively downtown

Having strong social services to

support all in meeting basic needs
Having a strong sense of community
unity and togetherness
Good housing opportunities

3
3

Which of the following would you identify as most important

actions to take related to jobs and career opportunities in the
community?

Action Priorities by Income

An overview of top three priority rankings by
income is provided in the following table. Multiple
rankings within income category indicates a tie.
Respondents across all income levels reported safe
neighborhoods as their top priority.
Having and active and lively downtown is a
priority for those whose household income is
$15,000 or more.

Having a variety of affordable

recreational activities

Less
than
$10,000

$10,000
$14,999

$15,000
$24,999

$25,000
$34,999

$35,000
$49,999

$50,000
$74,999

$75,000
$99,999

$100,000
$149,999

$150,000
$199,999

$200,000
or more

Having good infrastructure

More opportunities for residents
to be involved and have a voice
Adopting a culture of
appreciation for academic
excellence.
Safe neighborhoods

Having more diverse community

leadership
Having lots of opportunities for
many people to be leaders.
Being a community that actively
embraces its diversity
Having a variety of local
businesses

Having an active and lively

downtown
Having strong social services to
support all in meeting basic needs
Having a strong sense of

3
3

Which of the following would you identify as most important

actions to take related to jobs and career opportunities in the
community?

Action Priorities by Age

An overview of top three priority rankings by age is
provided in the following table. Multiple rankings
within age category indicates a tie.
Safe neighborhoods are a top priority across all age
groups.
All age groups identify having an active and lively
downtown as a priority.
Respondents 49 and younger prioritize having a
variety of affordable recreational opportunities.

Having a variety of affordable

recreational activities

14 and
younger

15-19

20-20

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70 and
older

Having good infrastructure

More opportunities for residents to
be involved and have a voice

14 and
younger

3
2

Adopting a culture of appreciation

for academic excellence.
Safe neighborhoods

Having more diverse community

leadership
Having lots of opportunities for
many people to be leaders.

Being a community that actively

embraces its diversity
Having a variety of local businesses
Having an active and lively
downtown

Having strong social services to

support all in meeting basic needs
Having a strong sense of community
unity and togetherness

Summary

Employment with benefits, educational improvements and support, and safe

neighborhoods emerged as priority action items.

The survey reached a strong cross-section of the community.

Having surveys available in Spanish and Burmese supported this outreach effort
African Americans were underrepresented relative to their population.

The sample was largely employed and economically stable.

More outreach is necessary to reach a larger cross-section of lower-income individuals.

The findings indicate that there are points of similarities in terms of the priorities
identified by different groups of respondents (i.e., race, age, and income).

A deeper analysis of priorities by intersections of race, income, and age would be

beneficial in future work.

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