COMMUNITY OPINIONS SURVEY
What is best about our community, and what do we need to make it even better?​ ​
Fill out our survey to make your voice heard. We want to hear from everyone! Have Questions?
Background:
Love Where You Live is a region-wide effort to listen to residents, learn from their lived experience, and invest in what matters most across the South Cumberland region. It is grounded in a simple belief: the people who live here know their communities best, and lasting change starts by listening to their voices.
​
Through this initiative, the South Cumberland Community Fund is inviting residents to help shape priorities, guide investments, and strengthen the places they call home.
​
Your response is completely anonymous, but you can provide optional contact information at the end of the survey to be entered to win one of five $50 Dollar General gift cards as a thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at director@southcumberlandcommunityfund.org.
Why Your Voice Matters
The Love Where You Live survey is an opportunity to help shape what comes next.
By participating, residents can
• Share what they love about their community
• Identify challenges and opportunities
• Help set priorities for local investment
• Learn how to get more involved through time, talent, or resources
When communities listen together, they can act with greater focus, shared energy,
and lasting impact.
From Listening to Action
What Happens Next
-
Now - February 28: Survey is open
-
March: Data analysis
-
April: Survey results are shared publicly, highlighting key themes and opportunities
-
May: Community conversations and gatherings to reflect on what we learned and explore paths forward
-
June 1: Grant requests open for community-led projects aligned with survey insights
-
July 1: Letters of Intent due
-
August 1: Grant applications due
-
September: Grant awards announced
Be Part of the Movement
Love Where You Live is more than a survey. It is a shared commitment to listening deeply, learning together, and investing wisely in the future of South Cumberland communities.
Your voice helps ensure that local insight guides local action and helps SCCF direct our funding towards the priorities our community identifies as being most important to them.
Together, we can strengthen the places we are proud to call home.
Survey FAQ's
What is the purpose of this survey? What will the responses be used for?
South Cumberland Community Fund exists to serve those who live, work, and learn on the South Cumberland Plateau. Our vision is to make the plateau a place of hope and prosperity for all, but we cannot accomplish this goal without input and direction from those who know this place best. We want to hear directly from YOU, our most important collaborators, about what is a priority for you.
This survey will be conducted each year for 3 years, and 2026 is the second year of this project. The results will be used to teach the Community Fund how to best direct our funding each year, help our grant partners shape their activities to fit the most acute needs of their communities, and allow the Community Fund track the impact of our grantmaking over time.
How long will it take for me to fill it out?
Completing the survey should only take 10-15 minutes. We very much appreciate your time!
How do I access the survey? Can I fill out a paper copy if I don't want to fill it out online?
You can access the survey online above or at this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfZu9twuv4BhNlFvOxQiCJVVHc8E3t6zHvY_QZpx-TOahGygA/viewform. If you would rather fill out a paper version of the survey, please call us at 931-954-9116 or email us at director@southcumberlandcommunityfund to arrange pick up or drop off of a paper copy.
Why are the towns separated into groups?
Because our towns are smaller than usual for a project like this, we wanted to think about larger groupings that made sense so our data would be statistically significant. We organized it in town pairs or groups that were closest to each other. Lots of people-not just in Pelham or Sherwood--live outside the city limits of our towns, so we thought those groupings could pull in almost everyone. We hope people will answer for the general location they identify with.
​
What if I live in an area on the South Cumberland Plateau that isn't listed? What if I work in the area but live somewhere else?
We want to hear from as many people who live, work, and learn on the South Cumberland Plateau as possible. If you live in an area that isn't listed, please choose the community group that you most closely associate yourself or your household with. If you work in one of the communities we are surveying but live elsewhere, we still want to hear from you! Again, just select the community you are most connected to.
Why am I being asked these questions? Can't you get some of this data elsewhere?
The South Cumberland Plateau is a unique place with rich, vibrant, and distinct communities. It can be difficult to get data that is specific to our individual communities. Oftentimes, we have to revert to state data, which does not always capture an accurate picture of our unique circumstances. In short, we want better data that represents us.
Who is the company you are working with, Innovation Economy Partners?
Innovation Economy Partners designed the survey to help community leaders see the hidden potential of their communities. They believe that small communities have ample talent and passionate leaders, and with the added insight and tools that data can provide, they can attain more with limited resources. IEP has worked with over 50 communities across the country, and we are excited to partner with them to bring their expertise to the South Cumberland Plateau.
​
Other Questions?
Contact us at 931-954-9116 or director@southcumberlandcommunityfund.org