Grove Chamber Takes Survey on New Casino
The Grove Area Chamber of Commerce recently conducted a phone poll to determine the
climate of its members regarding the proposed casino in Grove to be located on Hwy 59.
Of the 403 GACC members, 219 responded to the survey.
Grove Chamber members were asked if the casino would bring more shoppers to Grove,
70% of the respondents stated that yes the community would see an increase in shoppers while 30% did not foresee an increase.
The second question asked members to project the impact they felt the casino would have on their particular business. 43% feel the casino would have a positive impact on their business, 39% feel the casino would have no impact on their business, and 18% feel they would incur a negative impact.
Grove Chamber members were asked to project the impact the proposed casino would
have on commercial property values in Grove. 62% feel a casino will have a positive
impact on commercial property values, 19% feel it would have no impact on commercial
property values, and 19% feel a negative impact would be realized by commercial
property values.
Requested to set aside personal feelings regarding gambling, Grove Chamber members were asked if the proposed casino would have a positive, negative or no impact on the community as a whole. 49% feel the Casino would have a positive impact on the community, 17% feel no impact would be incurred by the community, and 34% feel the community would experience a negative impact.
The last question of the phone survey polled members about the infrastructure needs of the casino project. The Grove Area Chamber Board of Directors determined however that survey results could be somewhat challenged because chamber members were asked to respond to a question in which many respondents held differing ideas, and in many cases no idea, of the meaning of the term infrastructure and were uninformed about the actual infrastructure needs of the proposed casino.
In the question, chamber members were asked if the City of Grove should or should not provide the infrastructure for the proposed casino. While conducting the surveys, pollsters received a large number of responses from members that infrastructure costs should be shared by the casino and the City of Grove. Respondents however were given a choice of yes or no; the city should or should not provide the infrastructure. The survey was not prepared for a third response of a joint sharing of the cost. Consequently, for Chamber members who feel the cost should be a joint liability, their responses were tallied as a no response - that the city should not pay the cost.
Although the question was determined to be invalid, the chamber board decided to publish the results of the entire survey. 40% of chamber members feel the City of Grove should provide infrastructure and 60% feel the casino should be liable for all infrastructure costs of the proposed project.
The Chamber would like to thank the board members that volunteered their time to contact the membership and also thank those that participated in the poll.
If you have any questions as to how the poll was conducted, please feel free to contact Lisa Friden at the Chamber office at (786-9079) or through email to lisafriden@sbcglobal.net.
climate of its members regarding the proposed casino in Grove to be located on Hwy 59.
Of the 403 GACC members, 219 responded to the survey.
Grove Chamber members were asked if the casino would bring more shoppers to Grove,
70% of the respondents stated that yes the community would see an increase in shoppers while 30% did not foresee an increase.
The second question asked members to project the impact they felt the casino would have on their particular business. 43% feel the casino would have a positive impact on their business, 39% feel the casino would have no impact on their business, and 18% feel they would incur a negative impact.
Grove Chamber members were asked to project the impact the proposed casino would
have on commercial property values in Grove. 62% feel a casino will have a positive
impact on commercial property values, 19% feel it would have no impact on commercial
property values, and 19% feel a negative impact would be realized by commercial
property values.
Requested to set aside personal feelings regarding gambling, Grove Chamber members were asked if the proposed casino would have a positive, negative or no impact on the community as a whole. 49% feel the Casino would have a positive impact on the community, 17% feel no impact would be incurred by the community, and 34% feel the community would experience a negative impact.
The last question of the phone survey polled members about the infrastructure needs of the casino project. The Grove Area Chamber Board of Directors determined however that survey results could be somewhat challenged because chamber members were asked to respond to a question in which many respondents held differing ideas, and in many cases no idea, of the meaning of the term infrastructure and were uninformed about the actual infrastructure needs of the proposed casino.
In the question, chamber members were asked if the City of Grove should or should not provide the infrastructure for the proposed casino. While conducting the surveys, pollsters received a large number of responses from members that infrastructure costs should be shared by the casino and the City of Grove. Respondents however were given a choice of yes or no; the city should or should not provide the infrastructure. The survey was not prepared for a third response of a joint sharing of the cost. Consequently, for Chamber members who feel the cost should be a joint liability, their responses were tallied as a no response - that the city should not pay the cost.
Although the question was determined to be invalid, the chamber board decided to publish the results of the entire survey. 40% of chamber members feel the City of Grove should provide infrastructure and 60% feel the casino should be liable for all infrastructure costs of the proposed project.
The Chamber would like to thank the board members that volunteered their time to contact the membership and also thank those that participated in the poll.
If you have any questions as to how the poll was conducted, please feel free to contact Lisa Friden at the Chamber office at (786-9079) or through email to lisafriden@sbcglobal.net.
Labels: Grove Chamber
posted by Editor | 1:15 AM
3 Comments:
I wonder how many Chamber members actually have done some research into the effects of a casino on a small town, as opposed to just giving their 'perceived' opinions? Just give me the facts, please. I don't care what people around here are saying. They haven't the experience or the knowledge to know how other towns have fared (that have embraced gambling).
There's plenty of documentation and evidence around the U.S. as to the effects on commerce, crime, economic impact, taxes, etc.
Wichita just turned down gaming at their dog track. Why? Could it be they were educated? Give me just the facts, please. No 'perceptions'. The facts don't lie.
Without the addition of the Casino, Grove will find itself in the postion of having virtually nothing to entice visitors to stay. Just try to get something to eat after 8pm. Juan Montez, Bubbas, Main Street Station, Emeral Bay, Lake Side and Papparazzi are just some of the restaurants that have closed in the last few years. Tie that in with the lack of public beach access to Grand Lake, the question then becomes why visit Grove.
The C of C and the City Council had better wake up to the fact that we are about to become a has been tourist destination. Then lets see if the merchants still feel the casino is a bad idea
I would be great if the Chamber took a poll of the 'other' side.
Get the figures together on how much help the City of Miami has received from the 4 or 5 casinos.
Who has the most to gain from the casino in Grove? Some business folks think that an influx of people coming in to the casino will stick around and shop, eat and buy whatever they have to sell. Dream on..
It is difficult to understand how professing christians can endorse a get-rich-quick entry into our city. WWJD
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