Community Foundation of Southern Indiana Releases Community Needs Assessment

It is with great pleasure that we announce the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana has released its 2020 assessment of needs and priorities for Clark and Floyd Counties in Southern Indiana.

Tabbed as the Priorities for Progress: Assets and Aspirations in Southern Indiana 2021, the report draws from public data sources, findings from community listening sessions in Borden, Georgetown, Greenville, Henryville, Jeffersonville, New Albany, New Washington, and Utica, and surveys more than 600 individuals living or employed in Clark and Floyd Counties.

“With the findings detailed throughout this report, we hope it will be used as a community-wide resource for a variety of organizations and groups to help them make decisions about how to improve the quality of life for everyone in our community,” said Linda Speed, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Southern Indiana.

The Community Foundation of Southern Indiana commissioned the Indiana University Southeast Applied Research and Education Center (AREC) to produce the current Community Needs Assessment, which updates and expands on the 2015 report with a more detailed community survey, providing a closer look at public data to inform local planning and decision-making.

“Clark and Floyd counties saw important progress from 2015 to 2019, with increases in real median income and educational attainment, reductions in poverty, and fewer residents suffering food insecurities,” said Dr. Melissa Fry, director of the Applied Research and Education Center. “The COVID-19 pandemic interrupted momentum, but efforts to improve quality of place and quality of life continue.”

The report presents important opportunities to align public, nonprofit, and business resources to build on the region’s assets and address local concerns. This includes focus on improving quality of place and quality of life, building and attracting living wage jobs, and providing affordable access to housing, health care, childcare, and education and job training to build thriving communities throughout Clark and Floyd counties.

The report and its findings will be presented to the public on Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021 from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Those interested in attending the public information session can visit the CFSI website – www.CFSouthernIndiana.com – to register for the event. Visitors can also read individualized sections of the report, attain fact sheets, or view/download the full report.