2014 Growth & Opportunity Study
Executive Summary
Background
In March 2014, the Fund for Our Economic Future issued a baseline survey through the Center
for Marketing and Opinion Research in Akron, to gauge civic leaders’ perception and
understanding of the relationship between growth and opportunity. “Growth” was defined as job,
income and output growth, and “opportunity” as the prospects for all individuals, regardless of
location, economic status, race, or other status, to secure a job and advance based on their own
effort and ability.
The purpose of the exercise was to help our Fund benchmark efforts to increase awareness,
engagement and activity through our Growth & Opportunity (G&O) Initiative over the next few
years. The G&O Initiative builds on a growing body of research (including our own What Matters
to Metros study) indicating that growth alone will be insufficient to build and sustain healthy
economies if an increasing number of people are disconnected from the opportunities being
created. While G&O is an initiative of national import—with communities around the country
working to build healthy economies and close the income inequality gap—it has significant
implications for our own work in Northeast Ohio, particularly in the areas of job creation, job
preparation and job access. We plan to send a follow-up survey in late 2015 to check our
Fund’s progress on building awareness around this important effort.
Respondents
In total, 476 individuals completed the survey, representing the nonprofit, private business,
media, education, and government sectors in four metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs),
including Akron, Canton-Massillon, Cleveland-Mentor-Elyria, and Youngstown-Warren.
Breakouts by sector and geography are available in the full report.
Results
Survey results revealed the following:


An opportunity exists for awareness-building in Northeast Ohio. Nearly half (48%)
of respondents had NOT heard of the G&O Initiative. This will be one of the major
benchmarks we work to minimize over the next one to two years.
A link between economic growth and equitable access to opportunity is
perceived, but the “how” is unclear. By and large, respondents believe that inequality
and poverty significantly affect long-term economic growth. But nearly half (48%) believe
high-skill jobs inevitably lead to increased opportunity, which may or may not be the
case.

Whether in a “growth” or “opportunity” camp, there is a strong desire for future
engagement. While a majority of respondents felt they resided in either a “growth” or
“opportunity” camp (see further explanation below), a majority (82%) expressed interest
in participating in a G&O Initiative that promotes a stronger connection between the two.
What’s more, a majority felt either “somewhat” or “very” confident that a measurable
impact could be made from G&O efforts.
These themes are explored in greater detail below.
An opportunity for awareness-building in Northeast Ohio
Only a small percentage of respondents (4%) had heard of and were very familiar with the G&O
Initiative, exposing a great need for enhanced awareness. Survey results also indicated that
“Growth and Opportunity” means different things to different people. When asked what they
thought the phrase “Growth and Opportunity” refers to when thinking about the regional
economy, responses varied, but could be classified into common themes, including
expanding/growing/increasing, employment/workforce, create/attract/add/develop/new, and
diversity/inclusion.
In thinking about their own work, 24% of respondents identified more with the “growth” camp
(e.g. economic development agencies, chambers of commerce), and 28% associated more with
traditional advocates for opportunity (e.g. social service providers, nonprofits and foundations).
Less than half of respondents associated themselves as being part of both a “growth and
opportunity” camp (see below).
Associate more with 'Growth' or 'Opportunity'?
8%
24%
40%
28%
Growth
Opportunity
Both
Neither
A perceived link between economic growth and access to opportunity.
In general, respondents identified a strong link between economic growth and equitable access
to opportunity. Nearly 98% of respondents said access to opportunity is somewhat or very
critical to sustained economic growth. How best to approach this issue was not as clear, with
48% of respondents believing the creation of high-skilled jobs inevitably leads to increased
opportunity. Still, participants acknowledged the importance of building stronger connections
between growth and opportunity efforts in the economy, with 71% calling it very important.
A strong desire for future engagement.
While a vast majority, or 82%, of respondents expressed interest in participating in a G&O
Initiative, 42% believed they were already involved in efforts (listed in the full report) that
address G&O. Those most frequently cited included initiatives led by the Northeast Ohio
Sustainable Communities Consortium, respondents’ own employers, local economic
development offices, and the Regional Economic Competitiveness Strategy, the partnership
between our Fund and the business community. Approximately a third (31%) of respondents
were aware of other existing efforts focusing on growth and opportunity, but were not currently
involved with them.
While respondents expressed some skepticism, more than 75% were either somewhat or very
confident that measurable improvement could result from G&O efforts.
For questions on the survey, please contact Emily Garr Pacetti, Director of Research and
Evaluation at the Fund. To explore how to better link local or regional initiatives, contact Chris
Thompson, Director of Regional Engagement.