Web-Tools for Analyzing Socioeconomic Trends

1. Web-Tools for Analyzing Socioeconomic Trends Program by: Charlie French

2. Socioeconomic Analysis: Why do it? • Identify emerging socioeconomic trends • Serve as a basis for targeting programs/audiences • Inform decisions about economic development • Provide baseline for Impact Evaluation • Supplement grant applications and funding requests

3. Lycos Source of multimedia material Ask Helps refine your search GoogleGood for govt. material Infoseek Good for business info Yahoo Contains media resources Alta Vista Translates Webpages Hot Bot Offers the most search opts Netscape Good for Hard research Excite Focuses on Consumers AOL Good source of Business info Searching for Information: Activity: Try out the various search engines to find information about emerging trends pertaining to you or your organization.

4. What Kind of Data is on the Web? • General Population Trends • Business and Economic Development • Agriculture/Rural America • Natural Resources Information • Youth and Family Issues • Health and Nutrition • .

5. General Demographic Data Sources: • http://www.census.gov The Bureau of the Census site is a • good starting point for research requiring facts and figures. • www.bea.govThis site provides data at the regional, national, and international levels. • http://factfinder.census.gov/ General data on housing, demographics, business...

6. Business and Economic Data Sources: • http://www.bls.gov Bureau of Labor Statistics contains National data on employment and income. • http://www.visitnh.gov/ Maintains statistics pertaining to NH tourism industry. • http://www.nhes.state.nh.us/elmi/index.htmlLook here for Labor Market information for New Hampshire. • http://www.buzzgate.org/ Serves as a clearinghouse for NH business information, data, and tools.

7. Ag, Forestry, Water Resources Data Sources: • http://www.usda.gov/nass The US Department of Agriculture has national/state/local data from1997 Census of Agriculture. • http://www.fs.fed.us/ne/fia/studies/FRU/index.htmlNortheastern Forest Inventory & Analysis • http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/internet/physical_geog_resources.html Comprehensive clearinghouse for data/information on soils, hydrology, climate, plants/animals, landform, ecoregions, etc. • www.usgs.gov The USGS maintains data links and resources pertaining to landform, biological resources & water resources. • http://www.epa.gov/waters/enviromapper/ ‘Enviromapper’ is an EPA site that allows users to interactively map information pertaining to water bodies in the U.S. • http://www.granit.sr.unh.edu/ Contains NH natural resource info

8. Children Youth and Family Data Sources: • http://www.ed.gov/rschstat/landing.jhtmlThis site contains national and state-level data on education and test scores. • http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/ This site provides links to data on children, youth, and families. • http://regionalindicators.unh.edu/Interactive access to socio-economic indicators for urban and rural parts of the nation. • http://www.childrennh.org This site has living-wage information for New Hampshire.

9. Health and Nutrition Data Sources: • http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/datawh.htmNational and state level health statistics (including disease risk factors, causes of death, health promotion strategies, etc.). • http://www.ahcpr.gov/data/National Health Care data from the Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality. • www.nhhealthdata.org This website is an inventory of health data that is available to New Hampshire communities.

10. http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/BasicFactsServlet Site enables you to build national, state & county census data maps • http://earth.google.com/Google Earth™ provides internet access to satellite imagery, maps, terrain and other geospatial data. • http://www.granit.sr.unh.edu/ This on-line database enables you to build maps of New Hamsphire natural resource features. • http://terraserver.homeadvisor.msn.com This site enables you to zoom in on aerial photos of most areas (1996 photos). • http://mapping.usgs.gov/partners/viewonline.htmlUSGS maintains links to other on-line mapping resources. • http://www.geographynetwork.com/index.htmlHas links to other on-line mapping engines. Maps and Graphics:

11. Surveys and Needs Assessment Tools: • http://www.communitydevelopment.uiuc.edu/commsurvey/University of Illinois’ Laboratory for Community and Economic Development has a database of sample surveys/needs assessments as well as an an on-line survey-builder. • http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/chapter_1003.htmProvides information a variety of community needs assessment tools. • http://www.unh.edu/survey-center/ Though the UNH survey Center typically charges a fee for survey work, Dr. Andy Smith often provides free sample surveys and technical assistance. • http://www.surveymonkey.com/ Survey Monkey enables one to create online surveys quickly and easily. Simple surveys are free to create. Pricing for more complex surveys is reasonable.

12. Community Data Profile Builders: http://www.nhes.state.nh.us/elmi/communpro.htm Shows community information and data for all NH towns/cities. http://headwaterseconomics.org/eps/index.phpCreate free customized economic profiles for any geography in the US.

13. Other Interactive Tools on the Web: www.communitydevelopment.uiuc.edu/cdo/On-line Strategic Planning for Communities. www.communitydevelopment.uiuc.edu/commsurvey/On-line Business Retention and Expansion Survey. http://cecf1.unh.edu/ccas/index.cfmOn-line Community Capacity Assessment Tool.

14. Tips for Building your Own ‘Data’ Profile: • Be clear and concise • Combine numbers with text and graphics • Maps add to overall impact • Don’t try to put too much data in the Profile