Holly Area Economic Development Task Force delivers survey results

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Ryan Bladzik

HOLLY, Michigan – Ryan Bladzik says of the 1,993 surveys that were sent out to random homes in the Holly Area School district, 265 were returned, giving the Holly Area Economic Development Task Force a 13 percent return rate, and a 95 percent confidence interval  of +/- 6 percent.

Bladzik, the owner/principal of Great Lakes Marketing and Communications and a member of the EDTF, volunteered his services in developing a 37-question survey covering a wide assortment of demographics including employment, consumer and dining habits, opinions and attitudes, lifestyle information, media information and activities and hobbies. The survey was designed to give area businesses and organizations key information in spurring economic growth in the general Holly area. The surveys went out in May and had a deadline of July 31 for their return.

Survey findings were presented by Bladzik during the monthly EDTF meeting held on Tuesday, Aug. 31.

“A return rate of 13 percent is really good,” Bladzik said on Wednesday. “The biggest surprise on the survey was the outcome of asking the question, ‘Should Holly try to attract bigger development and national chains,’” he added. Bladzik said earlier focus groups had agreed with more development, but without “big box stores,” or similar business ventures.

“Well, the survey results were compiled, and over 50 percent agreed with attracting bigger development,” Bladzik said. “What was more surprising was who was in agreement – older residents and people who have lived in Holly longer, as well as people who agreed that the ‘small town atmosphere’ was a benefit to Holly.

“Intuition would say that older or long-term residents might be ‘traditionalists’ and want to keep things as they always have been, and younger people would be interested more in conveniences, that wasn’t the case at all,” he said.

Additionally, Bladzik said the survey indicated that communication channels, knowledge and awareness of what is going on in the community has a huge effect on the opinion and behaviors of residents. “ Being in somewhat of a media ‘no man’s land,’ and due to the fact that many of our local organizations and institutions don’t have  full public relations/communications programs, people might  be prone to entertain themselves or not get involved with issues because they just don’t know what’s going on,” Bladzik said. “If nothing else is gleaned from this survey, I hope that our governments, non-profits and businesses take a moment to think about how they communicate with their audiences and how they market themselves, especially online.”

Groveland Township Supervisor Bob DePalma said a similar study had been done in Ortonville a few years ago. “This survey is consistent with the type of market research done by several firms who were interested in the township property at I75 and Grange Hall Road before the economy took a downturn,” he said. “This particular study was excellent, and should be helpful,” DePalma said. “The important thing is to use it and keep moving forward.”

Results of the  Holly Community Market Research Report are available online.