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Northampton County OKs $25,000 grant-funded YMCA feasibility study
Summary
Commissioners approved a grant-funded $25,000 feasibility study by Foursquare to test whether a regional YMCA can be sustained; the study includes 600 completed phone interviews across a ~15-mile market area and will be returned to the board for next steps.
The Northampton County Board of Commissioners approved a grant-funded market feasibility study to assess whether a regional YMCA can be sustained in and around the county.
Economic development presenter Mr. Bennett told the board the $25,000 study — paid entirely with grant funds — was proposed by consulting firm Foursquare and will include up to 600 completed telephone interviews drawn from a roughly 15-mile market area that includes parts of neighboring counties. Bennett said the study is intended to determine whether membership, household disposable income and service needs would support a YMCA rather than building a facility without that market analysis.
Commissioner (speaker 3) raised concerns about the sample size and urged more direct, face-to-face engagement with the county’s churches and schools to build community buy-in. "600 people interviewed with a population in Northampton County, 16,243 ... that's only about 4% of our population," the commissioner said, questioning whether phone interviews alone will capture local sentiment.
Bennett replied that Foursquare uses random sampling to infer broader population preferences, that the 600-completed-interview target requires contacting many more households until the sample is reached, and that the firm will produce a full report for the board. He also reiterated that the study is grant-funded and will not draw on county tax dollars.
After discussion, a motion to approve the market study passed with a second and recorded affirmative votes.
County staff said results of the study will be provided to the board and will inform next steps — including whether the county pursues additional public engagement or project development.
