In 2016, all eyes will be on Des Moines.

Take the survey  Have a perception to share? Fill out this form to let us know how you perceived Des Moines before you moved here. Stereotypical or not, we want all feedback. Answers may be used in an upcoming Business Record story. Take the survey >>>

Out-of-towners and media will descend on the area for the Iowa caucuses in January and for the first round of the 2016 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, scheduled for March.

The two events create massive opportunities to put Des Moines’ best foot forward and showcase what we have, what we offer, and how we want to be seen by a national audience.

But first, we need to figure out how people in other parts of the country perceive us.

We’ve all seen it: shots of cornfields and hay bales on the national news while reporters interview a presidential candidate. The obligatory tractor thrown in for good measure. But is that really how we’re perceived?

In preparation for an upcoming Business Record story focusing on this topic, we’re asking for help from our readers — specifically those who lived in another part of the country before coming here — to find out how they perceived Des Moines (and Iowa) before they became a resident. Take the survey >>>