Drake University graduate students recently shared the results of their communications and perception study with City of Perry officials.

City Administrator Sven Peterson explains the purpose.

“The main focus of this study was to figure out how citizens and also visitors to Perry how they kind of find out about us, and listen to what we’re trying to communicate.  It was also assessing if the way the city and our organizations are communicating are in the most effective manner to reach our audiences.”

The survey is part of a pilot program through the partnership between the City of Perry, Drake University and Iowa Economic Development Authority.  The goal is to help smaller communities get connected with college students in a collaborative approach to learning and assisting the communities they work with.

Peterson says the students will now take the information they obtained and use it to assist them with their final capstone project this summer.

Both Perry residents and metro area residents were asked to take part in the survey.  Overall, participation was high with around 550 people taking time to complete the survey, which is more than the number of people that cast a ballot in the last city election.

Peterson expects the survey to be re-released again in the near future as they try and obtain results from a larger and more diverse group of people.