EDIT panel OK's study (08/01/2008)

The voices of Portland residents and those who visit the city may soon be heard.

A local board has voted to recommend that funding be granted for a study to determine what people want to shop for in the city.

Members of the Portland Economic Development Income Tax Advisory Committee voted Thursday to grant the Jay County Chamber of Commerce $10,000. The money will be used to contract with a Ball State University class to conduct surveys in the city.

The Portland City Council will have final say on whether the funds are given to the chamber. The council is expected to vote on the matter Monday night.

Jack Ronald, chairman of the Portland Commercial Development Committee through the chamber, pitched the idea to the EDIT committee. He said the chamber conducted a similar survey in the late 1980s or early '90s. The result of that survey was Ponderosa Steak House, he said.

Ronald said it is important to find out what regular shoppers in the city are looking for, as well as those who visit the city.

The primary focus on visitors will be for events such as the Tri-State Gas Engine and Tractor Show and the Boomer Basketball program through Jay Community Center.

"There's never been a marketing survey of what they want to do," he said of the people who attend the aforementioned events.

"The most important is ... what do the people who live here, work here, want," he added.

He said the survey could be conducted by asking questions of people in parking lots, e-mailing surveys, posting surveys on the Internet and having a booth at the tractor and engine show in August. Ball State officials said payment will not be required until March of 2009.

The data could lead to the development of new businesses, as well as encourage local business owners to make some changes to meet the desires of consumers, Ronald said.

Committee member Kent McClung, also a member of the Portland City Council, asked how soon the results of the surveys would be available.

Ronald said the results could be ready by February or March of 2009, depending on weather and the schedule for the Boomer Basketball. It will take the Ball State students about two weeks to generate questions for the surveys, he said.

Before the committee voted unanimously, Ronald said it makes sense to use EDIT funds for the survey because, "It's just nuts and bolts economic development."

"I agree with you. I think this is a great fit for economic development," McClung said to Ronald.

The data generated by the surveys would be adequate for about five years, Ronald said. The chamber plans to conduct such surveys every five years and budget funds for the work in the future, he said.

"It's a good product to take out to the developers," Bill Bradley, executive director of Jay County Development Corporation, who attended the meeting, said of the survey results. Other communities he has worked for have done similar surveys and received good results, he said.

"I certainly think that this can be a very productive tool," said Portland Mayor Bruce Hosier, another member of the committee. Other committee members include city clerk-treasurer Linda Kennedy, councilwoman Judy Aker and councilman Kip Robinette.[[In-content Ad]]