Next Generation Initiative Releases Results of Evaluation

HURLEY, WI - by Will Andresen - Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - Thanks to everybody who took the time to complete the NGI evaluation. Attached you will find a summary of the results – and below is a summary of the summary.

Also, if anybody would like a (free) Fe bumper sticker to help promote our new web-site (www.felivelife.com), please let me know and I’ll get one in the mail to you. This site is designed to attract young people outside of the area who are seeking the adventure lifestyle. It can also be used to help attract just about anybody. And, it’s a great site to just show off all the things we have to offer, even to people already living here. The more we can promote this site, the better!

Thanks for all of your hard work, dedication and positive attitudes as we work together to attract and retain young people on the range!

Will Andresen

Summary and Conclusions

After 15 months, this evaluation of the Next Generation Initiative’s short-term outcomes has been largely positive. According to the survey:

· 88% had a better understanding of how to create a community more attractive to young people

· 97% believed the NGI had a positive impact on the community

· A clear majority believed that they (and the community) had a better understanding of the community’s assets and the importance of promoting these assets

· 79% of all respondents – and 88% of natives – had a more positive perception of the community

· All six work-group leaders indicated that they learned new valuable skills

In addition, participants in the Go-In Forward Next Generation Group overwhelmingly agreed that they:

· Were more aware of other young people in the community with similar interests

· Felt more “at home”

· Met new friends

· Felt more connected to the community

· Were more likely to stay in the community

Several questions were specifically asked to help determine if the NGI was meeting its specific goals of attracting and retaining young people. Seventy-eight percent of the respondents believed that the NGI would be successful in attracting more young people to the community and 69% believed it would be successful in retaining young people in the community.

Fifty percent of the respondents said they would be more likely to stay in the community as a result of the NGI.

And 87% of participants in the Go-In Forward group said they would be more likely to stay in the community as a result of the group’s social and networking opportunities. In fact, for participants who attended five or more of these social events, 100% stated that they were now more likely to stay in the community.

It is too early to determine whether or not the NGI will be successful in fulfilling its mission to attract and retain young people. However, the above indicators show that many of the pieces are falling into place to make this happen.

Collectively, these positive short-term outcomes will better position the Gogebic Range to attract and retain young people to reverse its decades-long population decline.