Rural Resident Needs Survey

JavaScript isn't enabled in your browser, so this file can't be opened. Enable and reload.

The Schaefer Center for Public Policy at The University of Baltimore previously developed this survey for residents in rural areas of Maryland on behalf of the Rural Maryland Council (RMC). The RMC is an independent agency within the Maryland Department of Agriculture. RMC serves residents in 18 counties classified as “rural” by the Annotated Code of Maryland as well as residents of the remaining jurisdictions’ semi-rural areas. RMC works with residents, local organizations, government at all levels, and others to serve the needs of Maryland’s rural communities.

Your input is valuable and will help guide the RMC’s legislative and priorities for the Rural Maryland Capacity Building Fund, and two grant programs—the Maryland Agriculture Education & Rural Development Assistance Fund (MAERDAF) and the Rural Maryland Prosperity Investment Fund (RMPIF).

Participation in this research is voluntary and confidential. There are no risks to participating. You may skip any question you prefer not to answer and may stop the survey at any time without penalty. The survey should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

No personally identifying information, including your name, will be collected. Your responses will not be linked to you in any way in the survey data or in any reports and the data may be used by future researchers.

If you have any questions about the survey, please do not hesitate to contact Leeza DeCheubel, Program Coordinator at the Rural Maryland Council, at leeza.decheubel@maryland.gov or 410-841-5772. We appreciate your help in this important effort.

We do not share, sell, or distribute our contact lists to outside organizations.

SUMMARY
• Your participation is voluntary.
• You can refuse to participate without penalty.
• You can skip questions or stop the survey at any time without penalty.

Q1. Please select below if you agree to participate in this survey.

Yes, I am 18 or older and I agree and want to take the survey.

No, I do not wish to participate in this survey.

Clear selection

Q2. Do you live or work in a rural community in Maryland?

I live in a rural community

I work in a rural community (Go to Q4)

I live and work in a rural community

I neither live nor work in a rural community (Go to Q5)

Clear selection

Q3. What is your home zip code?

Q4. What is your work zip code?

Q5. What is the most important issue concerning infrastructure for the rural community where you live/work?

Encouraging providers to install last mile broadband.

Engaging in regional cooperation in planning for new growth and development in rural areas.

Securing more financial resources for roads, water and wastewater facilities, and public transit.

Making rural communities better prepared to respond to crises or emergencies.

Planning for residential growth that includes affordable housing but discourages sprawl.

Other:

Clear selection

Q6. How would you rate the current condition of the infrastructure in the rural community where you live/work? This includes roads, bridges, and utilities.

Excellent

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Don't know/unsure

Clear selection

Q7. Do you feel the rural community where you live/work has adequate access to high-speed internet?

Yes

Don't know/unsure

Clear selection

Q8. How would you rate the quality of cell phone reception in the rural community where you live/work?

Excellent

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Don't know/unsure

Clear selection

Q9. What is the most important issue concerning economic and community development for the rural community where you live/work?

Maintaining existing businesses

Recruiting new employers with well-paying jobs

Providing services to support entrepreneurial activity in rural areas

Retaining residents

Attracting new residents

Attracting skilled labor

Other:

Clear selection

Q10. Do you feel the economy in the rural community where you live/work is thriving?

Yes

Don't know/unsure

Clear selection

Q11. What improvements would most benefit your local economy?

Better infrastructure

More job opportunities

Increased access to healthcare

More options for K-12 education

Better access to post-secondary education including training

Tourism development

Other:

Clear selection

Q12. What is the most important issue concerning community development for the rural community where you live/work?

Responding to poverty and providing assistance to low-income residents and families

Addressing issues related to the aging rural population

Providing engagement opportunities for younger residents, including those under 18 years old

Providing more transportation options within our community and to other parts of Maryland

Providing a good educational system beyond K-12

Other:

Clear selection

Q13. Do you feel that there are sufficient community centers or spaces for social engagement in the rural community where you live/work?

Yes

Don't know/unsure

Clear selection

Q14. How much do you agree or disagree that there is enough housing available in your community to meet the needs of all residents?

Strongly disagree

Somewhat disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

Don't know/unsure

Clear selection

Q15. What is the most important issue that needs to be addressed in the rural community where you live/work?

Road quality

Public transportation

Broadband internet access

Other infrastructure improvements

Access to healthcare

Job opportunities

Educational opportunities

Public safety

Social services for seniors

Social services for low-income families

Other:

Clear selection

Q16. What do you think is the number one reason people in the rural community where you live/work are moving out of the area?

Poor roads

Lack of public transportation

Lack of available broadband internet access

Poor access to healthcare

Lack of affordable housing

Lack of good job opportunities

Lack of educational opportunities

Poor public safety

Lack of social services for seniors

Lack of social services for low-income families

Other:

Clear selection

Q17. What do you think can be done to keep younger people in the rural community where
you live/work?

Improve roads

Improve public transportation

Improve broadband internet access

Improve access to healthcare

More job opportunities

Better educational opportunities

Improve public safety

Improve social services for low-income families

Other:

Clear selection

Q18. What is the most important issue concerning agriculture for the rural community where you live/work?

Preserving and conserving farm and forest land.

Keeping and making farming profitable.

Accessing locally grown products.

More opportunities for accessing other markets or sales outside of the local community.

Having enough people who want to be farmers in the future.

Having enough workers to support farms and agricultural operations.

More opportunities for agricultural education.

Other:

Clear selection

Q19. What is the most important issue concerning health care for the rural community where you live/work?

Securing more quality health care providers.

Securing more quality health care facilities.

Making health care more accessible.

Making health care more affordable.

Accessing dental, mental health, or vision services.

Improving non-emergency rural health care transportation.

Other:

Clear selection

Q20. How would you rate the availability of healthcare services in the rural community where
you live/work such as doctors, hospitals, clinics, access to medications)?

Excellent

Very Good

Good

Fair

Poor

Don’t know/unsure

Clear selection

Q21. Please indicate your level of agreement with the following statements.

Strongly disagree

Somewhat disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

Don't know/unsure

The healthcare options in the rural community where you live/work meet my needs.

I have sufficient access to mental health services in the rural community (where you live/work.

There are enough community programs and services to support senior citizens in the rural community where you live/work.

There are enough community programs and services to support younger residents in the rural community where you live/work.

Strongly disagree

Somewhat disagree

Neither agree nor disagree

Somewhat agree

Strongly agree

Don't know/unsure

The healthcare options in the rural community where you live/work meet my needs.

I have sufficient access to mental health services in the rural community (where you live/work.

There are enough community programs and services to support senior citizens in the rural community where you live/work.

There are enough community programs and services to support younger residents in the rural community where you live/work.

Q22. Does your job offer the ability to telework?

Yes and I telework as part of my job. (Go to Q24)

Yes but I do not telework as part of my job

No (Go to Q24)

Don’t know (Go to Q24)

Clear selection

Q23. Why do you not telework? (Select all that apply)

The internet availability where I live does not support telework.

I do not want to telework.

I do not have a place in my home where I can telework.

Other:

Q24. What makes your rural community great? Please limit your response to less than 500 characters.

Q25. Are there any other issues that you think are important concerns for people living in rural areas? Please limit your response to less than 500 characters.

Clear form

Never submit passwords through Google Forms.

This form was created inside of State of Maryland.

Does this form look suspicious? Report

Forms