Valdosta Partners with UGA for Workforce Housing and Transportation Survey

Staff Report From Valdosta CEO

Tuesday, October 4th, 2016

The City of Valdosta has partnered with the University of Georgia’s Housing and Demographic Research Center to conduct a survey that will explore housing, neighborhood and transportation preferences among people working in Valdosta. Made possible through a Community Assistantship Program grant, the data will be utilized to address housing and community development goals.

Take Survey

From Oct. 1-Nov. 4, those who work at Valdosta’s top five employers—which includes South Georgia Medical Center, Valdosta State University, Lowndes County Schools, Valdosta City Schools and Lowe’s Regional Distribution Center—will be encouraged by their employers to participate in a brief survey (5-10 minutes long) located on the city’s website. Employees of the City of Valdosta and the Lowndes County government, since they are located in the city limits, will also be invited to participate in the survey. No personal information will be solicited, and all responses are kept confidential.

Survey questions will help the city collect information about why people choose to live inside or outside the city limits, how they commute to and from their places of employment, and how affordable these quality of life resources are, among other helpful community development data.

Printed copies of the survey will also be made available for residents who do not have access to a computer or the internet.

In November 2015, the Neighborhood Development Division applied for the CAP grant through the Georgia Initiative for Community Housing. As a recipient, the City of Valdosta now has access to approximately 100 hours of student and faculty time for an applied Research/Mapping Project within our community that focuses on affordable workforce housing and transportation. GICH provides access to student support for small and mid-sized affordable housing and community development projects for GICH communities, such as Valdosta.

To participate in the survey beginning Oct. 1, visit www.valdostacity.com or contact the Neighborhood Development Division at 229-671-3617 for additional information.