For the City Times

Nearly 4,000 Portage County households will be randomly selected to participate in a LIFE (Local Indicators for Excellence) survey being conducted by community partners. The results from the survey will generate a LIFE Report that will help guide action to improve life in Portage County.

The purpose of the LIFE Report is to identify community strengths, challenges and priorities that will mobilize action in Portage County. The LIFE Report will also serve as a resource and centralized source of data to non-profit organizations, policy makers, government entities, faith-based organizations, foundations, corporations and more. Ministry Saint Michael’s Hospital, Aspirus, Portage County Government, Portage County Health and Human Services, and United Way of Portage County are the community partners supporting this project.

The survey will be mailed in a yellow envelope. “We strongly encourage residents who receive the survey to complete it and return it, said Angie Kellogg, United Way of Portage County LIFE Report Project Manager. “By participating in this important survey, you will provide valuable information to assist our communities in addressing key priorities and facilitating changes to improve the quality of life.”

The survey includes 35 questions that ask residents about a variety of topics related to areas addressed in the report: economic climate, education, the environment, family, health, and safety. “It is critical that we get a good response to the survey that captures a true cross-section of the community in order to compile accurate information that really reflects the residents of Portage County,” Kellogg said. Participants will have a chance to win one of four $50 Portage County gift certificates.

The last in-depth LIFE Report was published in 2012, and another survey was conducted in 2015 to develop comparison results. Over the years the report has been widely used by many individuals and organizations in planning, grant writing and recruitment, and program development.

The combined survey responses will be published in the 2017 edition of the LIFE Report, due to be released in September 2017. United Way serves as the fiscal agency for this community project. For more information regarding the survey, contact Angie Kellogg of United Way at 715-341-6740. To learn more about the LIFE Report or to view the 2012 report, go to www.unitedwaypoco.org/activities/life-report