Community Insights

Driving Real Change with Community Insights

As communities evolve, effectively serving them requires insights that reflect every voice and diversity. For over 30 years, our full-service research and analytics firm has delivered consistent, accurate, and compelling results for commercial, government, public policy, and social science research entities around the world.

Our uniquely qualified and dedicated Insights team includes seasoned statisticians, methodologists, and program managers that bring more than 20 years of experience to their projects.

Building Strong Communities through Community Surveys

ReconMR partners with public agencies, nonprofits, and community organizations to design and execute inclusive, reliable research programs.

Strategic/Urban Planning

Bellevue Comprehensive Plan Update Survey – This project shows the power and potential use of this type of study. The client was thrilled with the results and has publicly recognized ReconMR for this work.

Cape Elizabeth, Maine – Though surprising at first glance, the data retrieved during this study turned incredibly informative and useful for our client.

Ketchum, ID – We found this study interesting because Ketchum is a small mountain town serving as the 15^th home to the world’s billionaires. The results really brought home the need to increase housing.

Water Studies

We recently did a study in the Central Texas region on awareness of water authority, water use, and additional components.

Further, we’ve conducted surveys on knowledge of behaviors that are detrimental to water quality. Here are two examples: Bellingham, WA; Bothell, WA

One of our notable studies we did was for Honolulu, HI on attitudes toward and preparedness for flooding. To date, this study has resulted in over three presentations and a request for another study as the client found our data incredibly useful.

Budget Priority Research, or City Budget Surveys

Over the years, we’ve had the pleasure of working with various cities that require resident input as part of the budget planning process. While not all opt for surveys, those that do are particularly happy when they’re completed.

Here are three examples of surveys we’ve conducted in the past 12-18 months:

Bothell, WA; Bellevue, WA; Renton, WA

Bellevue, WA Comprehensive Plan Update Survey

Bellevue’s Planning Department Community Engagement team chose ReconMR to conduct a representative survey to firmly support its recommendations for the required 2024 update. The resulting survey effort collected 1,152 responses from a broad and representative sample of Bellevue residents.

Objective:

Bellevue’s primary objectives were to learn more about:

How to prioritize certain planning goals.
What features people value in a neighborhood.
How open residents are to adding new housing types throughout Bellevue and in their neighborhood.

View Bellevue Comprehensive Plan

The Comprehensive Plan Survey was a showpiece project for both the City of Bellevue and ReconMR. It has been presented at conferences and was a significant part of Bellevue’s award-winning and region-leading community engagement efforts. Bellevue is unique in treating the community survey as a discrete and crucial component of the comprehensive planning process.

Bellevue Wins VISION 2050 Award

Why Community Insights Matter

There is so much more to Community Insights than numbers. The information gathered from these surveys help provide an understanding of the people served by nonprofits, public agencies, and community organizations. Here’s how Community Insights can help with growth, build trust, and create long-term impact.

Design Programs That Truly Serve: Community Insights provide an understanding of what a community’s value, need, and expect, allowing for the development of programs and services that align with your community’s priorities.
Promote Equity & Inclusion: Inclusive research ensures the voices of underrepresented groups are heard, helping organizations reduce barriers and deliver fair, accessible solutions.
Strengthen Relationships: Community Insights help organizations ensure their people feel heard, allowing them to build trust and loyalty, as well as demonstrate transparency.
Make Smarter Investments: Through reliable insights, organizations can make clear decisions on resource allocations, effectively measure outcomes, and accurately document the impact of your organization’s efforts.
Drive Sustainable Change: As communities evolve, so do their needs. Community Insights can ensure decisions are community-driven, contributing to long-term success through aligned strategies.