What are community assets?
Community assets are things that improve the community. These include items that community members want to keep, build upon and sustain for future generations. Assets can be a tangible aspect, such as a historic building, or assets can be intangible, such as community values or volunteer efforts. Identifying a snapshot of assets helps us to:
- Easily envision our strengths and possible gaps we can work on as a community.
- Continue discussions of possible actions and initiatives.
- Think about and promote the community.
Asset Categories
- Values - are an intangible asset of a community, but shared values of a community add to our quality of life.
- People - are residents of the community. Everyone has gifts and talents to contribute to the community.
- Places - Every community has special places where people come together. Places can be either the built or the natural environment.
- Play - is an important part of life, from children to adults. Having time and space to play provides the opportunity to socialize with friends and improves our physical and mental health and our overall quality of life.
- Groups - Groups can be either formal or informal and often serve as our social fabric. Groups are residents working together to improve the community, get involved or add value to the community.
- Economics - Communities have economic power in local businesses. Economic power can also be understood through local banks, community foundations or development authorities.
Asset mapping process
Step 1: Community workshops
- A meeting is scheduled with local community leaders.
- Each of the attending participants is asked to record what they feel are assets for each of the six categories on the bubble maps.
- Afterward, a discussion of what was recorded takes place.
Step 2: Online community asset surveys
- Bubble maps for each asset category are developed based on participant data from workshops.
- Community members and Extension advertise the online survey to encourage broader community participation.
- A paper hard copy (PDF version of the survey) is provided for those without online access to the survey.
Step 3: Data Analysis of assets
- Survey data is analyzed for each asset category, including both existing and desired assets.
- Themes are developed for each of the asset categories based on data provided by participants, hence reducing each individual response and placing responses into themes.
- Assets are discussed and summarized in the NEAP Report.
- A full baseline data report, an economic impact report and additional infographics are available for this county.
A full baseline data report, an economic impact report and additional infographics are available for this county. Full reports and infographics will be available for each county in Nevada. For more information, email us at EconDev@unr.edu.
