Mesa County has released the highly anticipated results of the Tell Us community survey. More than 1,200 residents completed the survey over the summer and provided valuable feedback.

The survey asked residents about their perceptions of county programs and services as well as their community priorities.

For local businesses, the results provide an opportunity to see what’s important to the community. That’s helpful in developing strategies and messaging.

The top community priorities determined by the survey results include efforts to improve the K-12 education system, promote public safety and plan for infrastructure development to maintain quality of life. Other priorities include creating opportunities for family economic stability, helping local businesses grow, improving transportation infrastructure, encouraging diverse employment opportunities and improving broadband connectivity.

Overall, the survey results confirmed the vast majority of the community agrees Mesa County is a good place to live. Satisfaction with the quality of life in Mesa County is most strongly affected by income. As income levels increased, so did satisfaction.

Notably, the overall satisfaction level of survey respondents with annual incomes between $35,000 and $50,000 was the same as those with incomes of less than $35,000. That could be an indicator of the success of assistance and support programs in improving quality of life for those making less than $35,000. Without those social supports, the satisfaction responses from this group likely would have been lower.

One key concern for citizens is access to quality child care. The survey results emphasized how important it is for businesses to think about how the lack of child care can affect the available workforce.

Parents are a core part of the workforce in Mesa County, which makes child care essential to the economy. Stable child care can lead to the success of businesses and the community as a whole.

In addition to child care, residents also identified affordable housing as another priority and called for more mental health providers and substance abuse programs. There was overwhelming support as well for growth in the home internet sector.

Communication was a key topic in the Tell Us survey. Most residents indicated they prefer the county website and Facebook page as their top means of communication. Emails and direct mail could be beneficial as well.

Focusing on these platforms could provide local businesses with ways to improve their own connections to customers and employees.

To increase satisfaction with Mesa County as a place to work, survey results indicated there should be a focus on growing local businesses and diverse employment opportunities. Companies could use these results to their advantage in developing those sectors residents perceive as lacking. Moreover, companies could shape their messaging to focus on priorities for customers and employees.

Businesses play a critical role in the community. The survey results could serve as a map that leads to changes that benefit everyone.