Reno County residents invited to shape year two of Love Where You Live data

Feedback from Reno County residents is needed as the second Love Where You Live Resident Perception Survey kicks off.

The survey is the first phase of Hutchinson Community Foundation’s Love Where You Live Community Empowerment Initiative, a three-year effort now entering its second year designed to strengthen Reno County communities by amplifying residents’ voices, encouraging community engagement, and promoting collaborative action. The benchmarking data provided through this process will help inform how residents can make lasting positive change and build stronger community pride. The results will also inform future initiatives and investments of foundation grants and outside resources and to catalyze action.

The foundation continues to contract with Innovation Economy Partners to administer the project. The Ohio-based firm, which also works with McPherson County Community Foundation and Western Kansas Community Foundation on similar initiatives, designed the survey and will collect the data and analyze the results. Data from year one of the initiative can be found online at RenoSurvey.com.

Year one of the initiative sparked signs of progress across the county on residents’ identified priorities, from measures to increase blight removal and tackle housing challenges to civic improvements in rural Reno County. Projects to expand Sylvia’s community garden, improve the Arlington Community Building and launch Haven’s own Love Where You Live Initiative all received Fund for Reno County Impact Cycle 1 grant awards earlier this year.

The Community Foundation hopes to continue that momentum with even more survey participation from all corners of the county, demographics and walks of life.

“We were so pleased with the response to the first year of this effort,” said Director of Strategy Kari Mailloux. “We had 1,022 people who gave their input on the survey, and the turnout at the community workshops that followed was enthusiastic. But this year, we want to reach even more people, especially young adults, renters, communities of color, and rural residents—to get even better data. Broad input makes the priorities and collective perceptions more credible and actionable. Every voice we hear is one more perspective shaping our shared future.”

The collected data will inform this year’s community-level reports that will be available in the winter for Buhler, the Fairfield school area (including Arlington, Turon, Langdon, Partridge, Abbyville, Sylvia and Plevna), the Haven and Yoder area, Hutchinson (including Castleton, The Highlands and Willowbrook), Nickerson, the Pretty Prairie area, South Hutchinson, and Reno County as a whole.

Residents as young as 16 are urged to take the approximately 10-minute survey online at RenoSurvey.com or download a paper copy here to complete and return to Hutchinson Community Foundation by Oct. 17, when the survey closes. Those copies should be returned to the foundation office, 1 N. Main St., Ste. 501, Hutchinson, KS 67501. Surveys are available in English and Spanish.

This year as a bonus, for every 50 surveys completed in a Reno County community, Hutch CF will make a $50 donation to the local food pantry.

The second phase of the initiative will begin in early 2026 with community workshops to discuss the survey results, prioritize needs and brainstorm project ideas.

Organizations and groups may then submit grant proposals for Fund for Reno County funding through February 2026.

The process will conclude for a final cycle in 2027.

Residents, clubs, groups, employers and organizations are encouraged to help administer the survey to their constituents. Hutchinson Community Foundation staff are also available for short presentations to standing meetings.

For more information about the initiative, to take or download the survey, access resources, or to request a representative for a presentation at a meeting or gathering, visit RenoSurvey.com.

For questions, contact the community foundation at 620-663-5293.

Hutchinson Community Foundation’s mission is to inspire philanthropy, leadership and collaboration to strengthen Reno County. Since 1989, the foundation has granted more than $104 million to organizations.