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Virginia launches community survey as city advances Age‑Friendly Network work
Summary
City coalition including Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging and St. Louis County Public Health began community surveying and recruitment this month as part of Virginia’s participation in the AARP/National Age‑Friendly Communities network.
Mary McReynolds and representatives from the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging updated the council on Virginia’s work to join the AARP age‑friendly network and launched a community survey to shape a local work plan.
The initiative, led by a coalition that includes the library, St. Louis County Public Health and Minnesota North College, seeks feedback on eight domains such as housing, transportation and public buildings. Georgia Lane of the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging said the project is in its first year of convening local leaders and conducting resident surveys to identify strengths and needs.
The survey is available online and in paper form at the public library; library staff will help residents who need access or assistance. McReynolds said AEOA is assisting to recruit an AmeriCorps administrative coordinator to help run the effort and that the coalition will use survey results to prepare a work plan without hiring a consultant. The coalition also plans community tabling and has indicated it will appear at local events including an April 30 Earth Day event.
Councilors asked staff to share the survey QR code and flyer through city social channels. McReynolds asked councilors to encourage residents, businesses and community groups to join the committee or take the survey. The coalition noted the work may improve Virginia’s competitiveness for future age‑friendly grants but warned current specific grant solicitations mentioned in the presentation were closed.
McReynolds said the coalition is coordinating with other Iron Range communities already in the network, and that St. Louis County Public Health has provided back‑end support for data collection.
For next steps the coalition will continue outreach, finalize the administrative coordinator position via AEOA, collect survey results and draft a community work plan to present to the city and other partners.
