New Allstate Renewal Project Poll Finds Charlotte Residents Uniquely Enthusiastic About Their City

The Allstate Renewal Project Poll is part of The Renewal Project, a "social first" website and newsroom launched by Allstate and The Atlantic's consulting arm, Atlantic Media Strategies. The project spotlights individuals and local organizations advancing social good in communities across America.

There's plenty to be enthusiastic about in Charlotte, according to the poll – and that's creating optimism for the city's future investment and population growth. From ample outdoor recreation (88 percent) to the presence of hundreds of Fortune 500 companies (79 percent); from numerous local colleges and universities (79 percent) to an increasingly diverse job market (78 percent); from prominent professional and collegiate sports teams (83 percent) to a vibrant visual and performing arts culture (78 percent).

Eighty-five percent of residents believe Charlotte is a strong target for business investment. Residents indicated numerous qualities they believe make the city a good destination for entrepreneurial investors, including:

• Three quarters (75 percent) note Charlotte's highly educated and skilled workforce.
• Nearly three quarters (74 percent) cite Charlotte's many potential financial partners, such as banks, to help raise capital.
• More than seven-in-10 (73 percent) note Charlotte's affordable cost of living.
• More than three quarters (76 percent) cite Charlotte's close proximity to numerous widely respected colleges and universities.

"I'm proud of local innovators who are helping drive progress and establish a strong foundation for Charlotte's future," said Bill Goff, Field Vice President, Southeast region, Allstate. "By continuing to invest in our community, we ensure Charlotte remains a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family and start a business. Charlotte's distinct culture of civic engagement, skilled workers and innovation epitomize the spirit of The Renewal Project and are a testament to all the city has to offer."

Charlotte residents are proud of their city and believe it has provided them opportunities to achieve the American Dream:

• Two-thirds of residents (65 percent) say they are living the American Dream.
  • Fifty-nine percent of residents believe the opportunities provided by Charlotte contribute to their ability to achieve the American Dream.
• Homeownership is often described as a goal in achieving the American Dream. Owning a home in Charlotte is seen as a smart and achievable long-term financial decision by more than three-quarters of locals (77 percent).

While residents are mostly content, they believe there's room for improvement:

• Only three-in-10 adults (28 percent) think local institutions are offering new and forward-thinking ideas and solutions to the area's challenges and opportunities.
• Almost three-quarters (73 percent) of residents want local institutions to try new, forward-thinking ideas and solutions to community concerns, even if the outcomes are uncertain. Fewer than two-in-10 would rather rely on tried-and-tested ideas and solutions.

However, Charlotte residents believe the area is ready for population growth and has the features and resources in place to succeed, with the exception of transportation infrastructure:

• Nearly seven-in-10 (68 percent) believe the region is prepared for future population growth.
• More than six-in-10 (63 percent) believe the city has an excellent or very good technology infrastructure, including strong mobile networks and internet service options to help people connect around the area.
• Nearly six-in-10 (56 percent) believe the city has an excellent or very good ability to attract people who value lifelong learning and innovative fixes to local issues.
• More than half (53 percent) believe the city has excellent or very good opportunities for businesses to build off each other's strengths.
• Residents have mixed opinions about the readiness of Charlotte's transportation infrastructure to handle future growth:
  • Almost six-in-10 residents (57 percent) would highlight the expansion of the area's light rail rapid transit system and development of a streetcar line to help residents get around and decrease congestion as a reason to live in the area.
  • Twenty-nine percent believe the city's public transit is excellent or very good, 36 percent say about average and 33 percent say not very good or poor.
  • While transportation may not be the best, according to local residents, more than half of them (54 percent) say entrepreneurial investors would think the area makes good use of public transit options.

To see in-depth poll data from the Allstate Heartland Monitor Poll, visit www.therenewalproject.com 

Survey Methodology
The Allstate Renewal Project Poll investigates Charlotte metro area residents' views on the business environment, institutions, innovation and the city's future. The poll was conducted by FTI Consulting from May 11-15, 2016. The survey included a sample of 400 adults age 18+ living in the Charlotte metro area, defined as a 6-county core metro area including: Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Mecklenburg, Union (NC), and York (SC), with 200 reached via landline phone and 200 reached via cell phone. The margin of error for a sample of 400 is +/- 4.9 in 95 out of 100 cases.

About Allstate Corporation
The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate®." The Allstate brand's network of small businesses offers auto, home, life and retirement products and services to customers in the United States and Canada. In the 20 years since Allstate became a fully independent public company, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners have donated more than $405 million to support local communities.

About FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting, Inc. is a global business advisory firm dedicated to helping organizations protect and enhance enterprise value in an increasingly complex legal, regulatory and economic environment. With more than 4,600 employees located in 28 countries, FTI Consulting professionals work closely with clients to anticipate, illuminate and overcome complex business challenges in areas such as investigations, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory issues, reputation management, strategic communications and restructuring. The company generated $1.78 billion in revenues during fiscal year 2015. For more information, visit www.fticonsulting.com and connect with us on Twitter (@FTIConsulting), Facebook and LinkedIn.

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SOURCE Allstate Corporation