Better Data for Better Neighborhoods WBC Pilot Initiative Liz Jellema Summer 2016
Problem Statement To focus on the greatest potential impact, community leaders need the best quantitative and qualitative information available
Partnership We connect neighborhoods to the resources they need to become stronger and healthier. Business District Leadership 40 participants 54 neighborhoods
Survey WHAT TYPES OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION UNDERTAKE? Bus. attraction & retention Small business resources 25 24 Networking and introductions Corridor visioning Marketing & communications Liaison between city & business Permitting assistance Training programs Access to capital Incentive information Legal assistance 3 18 18 18 17 24 23 22 Connecting businesses to business improvement programs MWBE certification, writing business plans, start up assistance Technology training Infrastructure and investment Advocacy for business needs and area jobs Source: Business District Leadership survey (n=28)
Survey WHO ARE THE KEY AUDIENCES FOR YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES? Current business owners 23 In addition to Current employees Developers 22 Entrepreneurs Retailers Landlords Residents Dept. of Plng & Dev (DPD) Bus. Affairs & Cons. Protection (BACP) 18 18 17 15 22 For-profit start-ups Organizations with an interest in revitalizing the community Visitors and tourists Local elected officials Source: Business District Leadership survey (n=27)
Survey HOW OFTEN DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION USE DATA TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS? WHAT IS YOUR STAFF S ABILITY TO USE DATA IN TERMS OF SKILLS AND TIME? All of the time 12% Very little 11% Not at all 0% 52% Most of the time 35% Sometimes 42% 20% 46% 42% 28% Skills 13% Time LOW MED HIGH Source: Business District Leadership survey (n=26) Source: Business District Leadership survey (n=26)
Survey AS YOU ENGAGE IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING, WHAT DATA SOURCES DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION CURRENTLY USE? WHAT TOPICS DO YOU WISH YOU HAD MORE INFORMATION ABOUT TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLANNING EFFORTS? Census Bureau DNAInfo CMAP Dept. of Plng & Dev (DPD) LISC 13 13 13 13 18 Commercial real estate development Corridor revitalization Incentive programs 19 18 22 Crain s MetroEdge Small Business Admin. (SBA) Woodstock Institute World Business Chicago Nielsen Dun & Bradstreet DePaul Institute for Hsg 5 4 3 3 2 10 9 8 Workforce development Housing Crime and public safety Health Education 5 6 10 10 13 Source: Business District Leadership survey (n=24)
Survey WHAT WOULD HELP YOUR ORGANIZATION BETTER UTILIZE DATA TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS? access to data and a growing understanding how best to use the data there is a lack of access to relevant usable, customizable, current data on retailers, commercial space, needs, opportunities, and so on having direct access a workshop on how to access this important information additional training for revitalization training on how to interpret data having the information easily accessible any help that can be given in terms of accessing current data would be great training on utilizing and visualizing City data training on how best to use data and how to do so efficiently opportunities to get more timely access to hyper local data access to data that costs money would be beneficial easy access to mapping and large format printing staff training inexpensive data that is easy to customize to a particular industry or sub-industry training & Education knowing where to get it from easy access to neighborhood data a tutorial on what type of data is available for our neighborhood and how to use it to attract tenants Source: Business District Leadership survey (n=26)
Data + Storytelling We want to target [XYZ] business investment in our neighborhood Highlight assets Customer base Community buying power Existing businesses (and competitors) Commercial real estate trends Site zoning, access, and visibility Unique history (maps, satellite imagery, photos, news headlines) Address any challenges Changing demographics Talent supply, in/out flows, educational attainment Crime
Data + Storytelling
Progress To Date Training workshop 1:1 consulting sessions Pilot evaluation - Success measurements? - Recommendations to scale?
Feedback Very useful in an immediately applicable way! Douglas/Oakland/Grand Boulevard/Kenwood One of the better and more useful sessions I have attended. Humboldt Park Extremely helpful with information we can access and use immediately. South Shore Resources/info that allow us to truly work on changing our communities. Greater Southwest Chicago Useful information beyond expectation. South Chicago Extremely informative. These new tools are timely and will be instrumental in our effort moving forward. Greater Englewood
Scaling Opportunities Repeat BDL workshop and 1:1 consulting sessions Broaden audience to include SMEs Increase frequency Expand reach (e.g., Neighborhoods Now, delegate agencies) Add brochure development to storytelling component Help administer a local Business Sentiment Survey
Thank You! Liz Jellema Director of Research World Business Chicago ljellema@worldbusinesschicago.com