The Economic Welfare and Community Development: The Crosstab Analysis of “Johnson City Partners Ny” Business Strategies

Abstract

Community development plays a pivotal role in economic welfare and national progress, as it focuses on improving the economic, social, and cultural conditions of localized communities, which are fundamental to national growth. According to the United Nations, national development can only be achieved through the equitable and inclusive advancement of smaller social units like neighborhoods, towns, and rural areas. This paper explores the case of Johnson City, New York, where the revitalization of Downtown—stimulated by the establishment of Binghamton University’s Health Sciences Campus—demonstrates the transformative effects of community development. Businesses such as The Grapevine Café and Sole City Coffee have flourished, enhancing employment opportunities, sustainability, and community cohesion, while attracting new investors.  To gain insights into student engagement with Downtown Johnson City, the study employed crosstab analysis on survey data collected from 149 Binghamton University students. The first crosstab compared students’ proximity to Downtown with their frequency of visits, revealing that 120 students (80%) live within 10 minutes of Downtown, yet the frequency of visits was spread evenly across the sample. This suggests that while proximity is favorable, other factors limit engagement. The second crosstab focused on the areas of improvement for Downtown, with frequent visitors ranking dining areas (2.35), housing (2.50), and safety (2.53) as the lowest-rated aspects, indicating these as priorities for improvement to boost foot traffic. Further crosstab analysis on students' activities during their free time revealed that 48 students (32%) most frequently visit restaurants in Downtown, followed by 29 (19%) visiting retail stores and 19 (13%) spending time in dorm rooms. These findings underscore the importance of student-oriented businesses in driving engagement.  The study concludes that Johnson City Partners should focus on improving dining options, safety, and the city’s image to attract more students. Additionally, collaboration with the Off-Campus College Bus system could facilitate student access, and tailored developments in restaurant and retail sectors would significantly enhance economic and social vitality in the area.