THE VITAL WALLOWA INDICATOR PROJECT 2009 Wallowa County Vitality Assessment

THE VITAL WALLOWA INDICATOR PROJECT

2009 Wallowa County Vitality Assessment

Community Vitality Assessment Methodology

1. Community vitality: Capacity to work productively together and realize positive social, economic, and environmental outcomes

2. Developed 26 indicators of Wallowa County vitality: 2006 Vision & additional community input

3. Gathered data from: Federal, State, County, and City agencies Local organizations and businesses Wallowa County adult residents

4. Developed indicator targets5. Made assessment of community vitality

The Vital Wallowa Indicator Project

Vital Wallowa Indicator Project Survey

Survey Methodology: Hand-delivered February - May, 2009 by local residents

Wallowa HS FCCLA, Joseph HS FBLA, Enterprise HS FBLA Adult volunteers

Mail-back response rate: 63%Received completed questionnaires from 276 randomly

selected Wallowa County adult (18+) residentsQuotas established for area of the county to ensure a

representative sampleMargin of error:

±5.8% for permanent adult resident estimates All published estimates have been weighted to represent

the Wallowa County population of adult residents


2009 Community Vitality Assessment Findings

Areas of Strength (≥ ½)

Environment: 6/8

Community Capacity: 7/9

Economy: 4/7

According to the 2009 assessment, Wallowa County is roughly 56% vital, and

in three areas out of four, more than half of the indicators met or exceeded targets.


Areas of Weakness (< ½)

Social: 6/17

Goal 1.1 Wallowa County is rich in year-round residents, with a foundation of young people and families. Our quality of life attracts families, young people, and newcomers with similar values.

Social


Social: Goal 1.1

1. Population by Age: The percentage of population age 25-44 in Wallowa County was lower than desired and the percentage of population age 45-64 in Wallowa County was higher than desired by residents


Age 0-17 Age 18-24 Age 25-44 Age 45-64 Age 65-79 Age 80+0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Population by Age, 2000 – Oregon, Non-metropolitan Oregon, and Wallowa County

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

OREGON

Non-Metro OREGON

Wallowa County

% o

f P

op

ula

tio

n

Social: Goal 1.1

2. Migration by Age: The net migration rates of Wallowa County residents were higher than desired for some age groups.


0-4

5-9

10-1

4

15-1

9

20-2

4

25-2

9

30-3

4

35-3

9

40-4

4

45-4

9

50-5

4

55-5

9

60-6

4

65-6

9

70-7

4

75+

-0.8

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

Age-Specific Net Migration Rates, 1990 - 2000Wallowa County, OR and Non-metropolitan Oregon

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; National Center for Health Statistics; Voss, McNiven, Hammer, Johnson, and Fuguitt,

2004Non-Metro OR

Wallowa County

Net

Mig

rati

on

Rate

Per

Cap

ita

Goal 1.2 We intentionally care for and nurture one another.

Social


Social: Goal 1.2

3. Health Care Satisfaction:Quality – In 2009, the majority

of residents (86%) were satisfied with the quality of care in the county

Options – In 2009, too many residents delayed care due to lack of options (16%) and felt there were too few provider options

Access – In 2009, the majority of residents were satisfied with the distance they traveled, did not travel far, and did not travel outside the county for care


General Practitioners

Alternative Medicine

Dentists, OB/GYNs, Optometrists, & PodiatristsMental Health

Other Specialists

% of Wallowa County adults satis-fied with the number of health

care providers in Wallowa CountySource: 2009 Vital Wallowa Indi-

cator Project Survey

100%

Social: Goal 1.2

4. Health Care Affordability: In 2006, a greater proportion of Wallowa County residents did not have health insurance than the proportion in Oregon. More than a quarter of residents delayed care in 2008-2009 because of cost.


Goal 1.3 We focus on our children, finding ways to connect youth with new opportunities in the community and to have a positive community experience. We support our population of young people and families.


Social

Social: Goal 1.3

5. Youth Engagement: In 2007, Wallowa County was on target with respect to the proportion of youth who participate in activities outside of school hours. Youth tend to be concentrated in two activities, namely working for pay and school sports.

6. Childcare Utilization: In 2009, preliminary results indicate that the most common form of care of youth under 14 was parental or unsupervised care.


School sports

Sports outside of School

School Activities

Activities Outside of School

Future Farmers of America

4-H

Church

Work for Pay

Wallowa County Youth Participation in Activities, 2007

% of Wallowa County Youth (grades 9-12)

100%

Source: Looking Toward the Future: Examining Aspirations among Rural Youth (Shamah, 2007)

Goal 1.4 Educational and recreational opportunities are cultivated, and our culture of lifelong learning encourages sharing of our experiences

Social


Social: Goal 1.4

7. Lifelong Learning: In 2008-2009, while the proportion of adult residents who participated in some form of lifelong learning was above target (70%), the proportion of adult residents who participated in lifelong learning opportunities within the county was below goal.


0%20%40%60%80%

51% 57%

11% 10%

73%

Participation in Educational Opportunities, Wallowa County Adults

Source: 2009 Vital Wallowa Indicator Project

% of W

allow

a C

ou

nty adu

lts

Goal 1.5 Our community is rich in year-round residents of young people and families who do not endure extreme economic disparity and who can carry the heritage of agriculture and ranching forward in the next generation.

Social


Social: Goal 1.5

9. Workforce Housing: In 2000, the majority (65%) of Wallowa County renters who earned less than the county median income spent more than 30% of their income on housing.


Social: Goal 1.5

10. Farm & Ranch Ownership: In 2009, 56% of private farm, ranch, or forest landowners lived in Wallowa County, while 44% lived elsewhere.


Social: Goal 1.5

11. Seasonal Homeownership% of housing units vacant for seasonal use

Wallowa County 13%

ZIP code 97828 11%

ZIP code 97842 31%

ZIP code 97846 16%

ZIP code 97857 8%

ZIP code 97885 4%

East County: Joseph, the east side of

Wallowa Lake, and Imnaha

15%

West County: Wallowa, Lostine, and

Troy11%

Central County: Enterprise and the west

side of Wallowa Lake

12%The Vital Wallowa Indicator Project

Goal 2.1 Wallowa County provides stable and living wage jobs

Economy


12. Living Wage Jobs: In 2007, it was only possible for single-wage earner families of one parent and one child to support themselves with the average job in Wallowa County.

Economy: Goal 2.1

2007 Cost of living (Basic Family Budget)

for Wallowa County families of various compositions:

2007 Average Wallowa County

Earnings:

Ratio of Average

Earnings to Cost of Living (single wage-

earner)1 parent with 1 child $25,236

$25,523

1.01

1 parent with 3 children $41,556 .61

2 parents with 1 child $34,368 .74

2 parents with 3 children $47,004 .54


Goal 2.2 We capture the value of local businesses and high quality agriculture through new products and niche markets serving residents, visitors, and customers outside the area.

Economy


14. Balance of Trade: In 2007, the value of exports was 66% the value of imports.

Economy: Goal 2.2


$0

$50

$100

$150

$200

$250

$165

$250

2007 Values of Exports from & Imports into Wallowa County

Source: Minnesota IMPLAN Group, Inc., Sorte (2009)

Value of ExportsValue of Imports

Mil

lion

s of

Doll

ars

Goal 2.3 In addition to carrying agriculture and ranching forward into the next generation, Wallowa County cultivates a balance of compatible locally-owned small businesses, which add to our diverse and innovative economy.

Economy


Economy: Goal 2.3

15. Small & Large Business Health: Between 2008 and 2009, the growth rate of small businesses was +6% and for large businesses was -16%.

16. Employers by Size: In 2009, Wallowa County was below target for the number of firms in each employee size class, but on target with respect to the percentage of businesses in the county of each size class.


86, 23%

191, 51%

68, 18%

32, 8%

Businesses by Employee Size, Wallowa County, OR

1st Quarter 2009Source: OR Employment De-

partmentBusinesses with 0 employees

Businesses with 1-4 employees

Businesses with 5-9 employees

Businesses with 10 or more em-ployees

Economy: Goal 2.3


17. Employment in Industries Targeted by Economic Development Strategy: In 2007, the five targeted industries were responsible for about 53% of all jobs in the county.

19%

5%

12%

7%10%

47%

Percentage of Jobs by Industry, Wallowa County, OR 2007Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis

Ag. proprietors & laborers, Forestry, fishing, mining, etc.

Manufacturing

Retail trade

Professional, scientific, management, admin, and waste mgmt services

Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation, and food services

Other industries

Environment

Goal 3.1 High-speed telecommunication and transportation infrastructure helps us export our products and services as well as attracts families and young people


More data needed

Environment

Goal 3.2 Wallowa County is home to wide-open spaces, intact ranchlands, and a healthy environment


Environment: Goal 3.2


19. Working Landscapes: In 2009, 50% of Wallowa County land was actively managed for grazing, timber, and farming.

423,748

579,648

60,79344,775

354,568

548,978

507Wallowa County Land Use, 2009

Sources: USDA Census of Agriculture, US Forest Service

Public Wilderness Acres

Residential, Commercial, Industrial, Private reserves, and Other

Private Woodland Acres

Private Cropland Acres

Private Permanent Pasture or rangeland Acres

Forest Service Permitee Acres

Wallowa-Whitman Natl. Forest Timber Sale Acres



20. Land Access for Hunting, Fishing, & Recreation: In 2009, adequate amounts of public land (423,000 acres) and private landowners allow public access for these activities.

0%

10%

20%

30%

40% 34%30%

13%

Percentage of Private Wallowa County Landowners who allow the public access to

their land for hunting, fishing, or other recreation, 2009

Source: 2009 Vital Wallowa Indicator Project Survey Hunting

FishingOther Recreation



21. Water Quality: In 2004-2006, 522 miles of stream reaches in Wallowa County were “water quality limited.”

22. Noxious Weeds: In 2009, the number of acres treated met current year goals, the number of acres formally inventoried met annual goal levels, and only the number of acres under active restoration was slightly below target.

Scotch Thistle

Image courtesy of Eric Coombs, Oregon Dept.

of Agriculture

Community Capacity

Goal 4.1 Our small towns, local businesses, and active volunteers collaborate to create a shared future for the county


Society & Culture: Goal 4.2

23. Civic Participation: Between 2008 and 2009, 79% of Wallowa County adults participated in 2 or more civic activities in the county. Some groups were not equitably represented, however.

24. County Government Revenues: In 2008-2009, 35% of revenues came from fees, taxes, and grants and spending was at about $2,000 per capitaThe Vital Wallowa Indicator

Project

Attended public meetings

Participated on boards

Volunteered time

Applied or ran for public office

Donated money, services, materials

Helped raise money

Civic Participation of Wallowa County AdultsSource: 2009 Vital Wallowa Indicator Project Survey

% of Wallowa County resident adults

100%

Community Capacity

Goal 4.2 We intentionally nurture and connect year-round residents, including young people and families, through community events and community spaces, in order to foster a cohesive and collaborative community environment



25. Community Gatherings & Spaces: In 2009, there were abundant spaces in the community to meet, though many residents preferred to get together with each other at private residences.


Private Residence

Café

Other public place

Bar

Grange

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

64%29%

22%20%

13%12%

6%4%

2%

The Places Wallowa County Residents Often or Always Got Together with Friends or Neighbors

in 2009Source: 2009 Vital Wallowa Indicator Project


26. Community Capacity: In 2009, Wallowa County residents felt that they worked together well as a community.


People around here are willing to help their neighbors

People in this community generally trust one another and get along

If this community were faced with a local issue, people here could be counted on to work to-

gether to address it

Local government has the ability to deal effec-tively with important problems

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

91%

82%

84%

55%

Community Capacity & Trust in Wallowa County, 2009(% of Wallowa County adults who agree that...)

Source: 2009 Vital Wallowa Indicator Project Survey

2009 Community Vitality Assessment Findings


Areas of Strength (≥ ½)

Environment: 6/8

Community Capacity: 7/9

Economy: 4/7

Areas of Weakness (< ½)

Social: 6/17

According to the 2009 assessment, Wallowa County is roughly 56% vital, and in three areas out of four, more than half of the

indicators met or exceeded targets.

Discussion

Is this assessment consistent with your perceptions of the strengths and weaknesses of the county?

What has helped the county realize its positive outcomes?

What strategies could be adopted to start improving in particular areas?

For more information…

Indicator Report Summary

Full Indicator Reportcontact Nils Christoffersen: [email protected] Lena Etuk: [email protected]

Oregon Rural Communities Explorer:www.oregonexplorer.info/rural

In the Community Vitality section

Thank You!The Vital Wallowa Indicator

Project

Documents

THE VITAL WALLOWA INDICATOR PROJECT 2009 Wallowa County Vitality Assessment