SDSU Extension will launch a newcomer survey in the fall of 2023 to gain a better understanding of the reason that people are moving to South Dakota and will use the results to develop programming efforts to help communities welcome and retain newcomers.
An online survey will be distributed to anyone that has moved to rural South Dakota in the last five years. The survey will contain questions about moving to South Dakota and how they feel about living in their communities. The information collected will then be analyzed to look for trends that can be shared and help inform communities.
Project Timeline
- Summer 2023: Plan and promote the survey
- Fall 2023: Distribute the survey
- 2024: Complete and publish results and helpful deliverables
Importance of the Survey
By understanding the reason people choose to move to South Dakota, we can better inform communities of their current strengths, what improvements will be the most impactful, what can be done to help retain people in their communities, and how to create a community that people want to live in.
The survey will take approximately 15-30 minutes to complete. Only those who have moved to the state in the last 5 years, are at least 18 years old, and have not already taken the survey should participate. Please contact Kara Harders, SDSU Extension Community Vitality Field Specialist, with any questions you have about this survey and project.
