Survey of Nueces, San Patricio and Kleberg

Counties September 2013

Prepared by Harris, DeVille & Associates, Inc.

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About the Survey Developed by Harris, DeVille & Associates (HDA) and

Southern Media and Opinion Research (SMOR). Conducted by SMOR.

Telephone surveys conducted September 11-19, 2013

Sample size of 703 adult residents Margin of error +4.4% @ 95% level of confidence

overall; individual counties vary 13th survey during a eighteen year period Survey area consists of three counties [Nueces (400),

San Patricio (200), and Kleberg (100)] Sample frame from electronic residential household

phone directory and a listing of cell phone numbers Quotas imposed to ensure nominal participation quota

based on gender, Hispanic ethnicity and age. Results weighted to normalize sample by age, county, race and ethnicity to reflect actual population.

Nerdy stuff• Average length

– 14 minutes

• Total dials– 32,013

• (nearly half [43%] were 'no answer'; another 28% were 'answer machine')

• Refusal rate– 4.5% (2.1 refusals per completed interview)

• Phone type– 51% of completed interviews were made to

cell phone numbers; 49% to landline numbers.

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Study Area

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What they’re telling us

• Issues• Quality of Life

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What is the most important problems facing your community today?

Economy/ Jobs

Crime/

Drugs

Schools

Other

Corpus Christi, TX 23 5 4 34 Roads6 Taxes

Beaumont, TX (Dec 12)

30 20 14 12 Roads

Baton Rouge, LA (Sept 12)

19 55 19 35 Traffic

Baytown, TX (Jan 13) 14 31 4 15 Traffic

Chalmette, LA (Feb 12)

14 41 9 7 Traffic

Lake Charles, LA (Apr 13)

27 22 8

Billing, MT (Nov 12) 33 9 11 16 Traffic9 Taxes

Lemont, IL (Apr 13) 36 18 9 Taxes8

Foreclosures

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Folks generally happier in San Patricio

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Economic Insight

• Area economy• Eagle Ford Shale

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Male = 46%Female = 32%

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Male = 35%Female = 17%

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What about workforce issues?

• Job availability and opportunities

• Trades career• Trades training

providers

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Kleberg = 84%San Patricio = 77%Nueces = 64%

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+ Female+ Under 50+ Hispanic

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Community Health

• Healthy Place to Live

• Source of Problems

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Environmental Perceptions

• Quality of environment

• Ozone Action Days

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About the Bay

• Health of the bay• Value added• Use• Fresh water flow• Advertisement recall

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Jobs, ports, military, tourism

Boating, swimming, fishing

Sightseeing, birding, relaxing

Fish nursery, bird and wildlife habitat

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Business impressions

• Favorability• Concerns about

industry• Expansion support • Communication• Performance• Quality of life

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Key Findings• Two issues – Roads/Traffic and Jobs/Economy• People generally happy with where they live, work and go

to school; not as happy about local politics or job opportunities for young people

• Some optimism that economy is improving and Eagle Ford Shale related energy development credited as stimulus

• Workforce– Increasing recognition of job opportunities – and energy

related industries are the driver– Internet primary “go to” source for job info– Lack of focus on trades training “ownership”– Trades training providers receive high marks – if you

know they’re there– Trades viewed as “encouraged” career path

• Community Health– Area viewed as healthy place to live – but less

enthusiastically over past few years– Community recognizes multiple forms of risk

impacting health

Key Findings• Environment

– No real improvements or declines in environmental quality noted

– If folks point the finger on source of pollution, it’s pointed at smokestacks

• Bay– Bay is healthy– People recognize the diverse value it adds

• Business and Industry– Manufacturing base is accepted, but not embraced;

Eagle Ford has given industry much needed “value shot”– Concerns have remained constant over time; if concerned, it’s

about pollution– Majority still wants to see industry grow and expand– And feel they have a way to communicate with industry– Solid recognition (big picture) that industry has improved

overall quality of life– Strong recognition that industry provides good jobs, operate

safely and provide leadership in community; less recognition of our responsiveness, pollution reduction, and products benefits

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Observations

• Thoughts?• Comments?• Surprises?• Challenges?