United Way of Broome Completes Creative Community Assessement

The United Way of Broome County has compiled the information gathered over the summer in a series of community cafes to talk about the area's assets, concerns and needs.

This week on the local, weekly public affairs program, Southern Tier Close Up, United Way Community Initiatives Associate, Alexis Savidge talks about some of those topics recently highlighted for community leaders and others at a Boost Broome Event.

Savidge says, the ten cafes that had people chatting about Broome over a meal in a casual setting, took place all over the county in both rural and urban settings.  She says some themes, like having a safe place to live and access to health services and employment opportunities, were common across geographic and demographic platforms, others, like transportation concerns were more prevalent in specific areas.

The United Way is using the information to tighten its focus on funding needs of member agencies and associates but is also helping elected officials and other service providers to have a better picture of the assets and needs of the area.

More information on Boost Broome can be find at the United Way website (uwbroome.org).

Savidge wraps up the conversation with some information about a fun event coming up in October.  The United Way will be giving away dozens of Halloween costumes October 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the offices at 101 Jensen Road, off the Vestal Parkway.

Southern Tier Close Up is heard Saturdays at 12:10 p.m. following the Midday Report on News Radio 1290 WNBF.