Economic Development Digestibles

GIS Special District Program
Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) has developed a GIS program designed just for federally funded districts of all disciplines, such as health, transportation and councils of government. Now through July 2001, districts receive purchase cost reductions. The program offers software and training bundles for data creation, water/wastewater data, analysis, data for Internet, regional transportation and training supplements. A referral certificate is required.

Contact: ESRI, (800) 477-9778, www.esri.com/special districts
Price: Range $795 to $9,999 depending on software selection.

State Information Online
Data on state crime rates, taxes, income, transportation and urban sprawl is available online at www.stateline.org. The site allows data comparisons between states and has easy to access state linked information.

Population Information Online
Topics available on the Population Reference Bureau’s www.prb.org include Census 2000, aging, welfare and demographics. Each topic profile chronologically lists articles, reports and overall current statistics in easy-to-download files and website links. Job opportunities and quick facts are available on the website.

Internet Economics
The Internet: Access, Taxes, and Market Structure by Alan Wiseman examines the economic and social effects and potentials of the Internet. Wiseman, a former economic research analyst, also considers the appropriate role of government in e-commerce and uses current practices to support his views.

Contact: Brookings Institution Press, (202) 797-6100, www.brookings.edu
Price: $19.95, 128 pages

Fighting Off Flooding
Mitigation Success Stories, a December 2000 publication of the Association of State Floodplain Managers, profiles 17 states that have cost effectively implemented mitigation projects. Each profile offers real dollar savings, project description and background and funding sources.

Contact: Association of State Floodplain Managers, Inc., (608) 274-0123, www.floods.org
Price: Free online or $5.00, 82 pages

Beyond Agriculture
Beyond Agriculture: New Policies for Rural America, published by the Center for the Study of Rural America at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, is a collection of articles about rural communities and policies. The collection offers insight on rural infrastructure, human capital, economic opportunities, and a luncheon address from Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan.

Contact: Center for the Study of Rural America, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, www.kc.frb.org
Price: Free online, 213 pages

Transportation and Growth
In the Fast Lane: Delivering More Transportation Choices to Break Gridlock is the second report in a series by the National Governors’ Association (NGA). Based on NGA’s strategies for growth and quality of life initiative, the report uses case studies showing how communities can manage traffic congestion and grow at the same time.

Contact: NGA, (202) 624-5334, www.nga.org
Price: Free online

Guide to Census 2000 Data
Learn how to leverage census data using geographic information system (GIS) technology in Making Sense of Census 2000: A Guide to Understanding the New Data and Geography by Christopher Williamson, Ph.D, AICP. The guide also provides information on gaining public access to the data via Internet.

Contact: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. Press Books, (800) 888-4741, www.esri.com
Price: $29.95

Rural Housing Matters
Why Housing Matters: HAC’s 2000 Report on the State of the Nation’s Rural Housing compares rural and metropolitan housing conditions, including mobile home volumes, rentals and mortgage rates. Comparisons are grouped geographically and demographically.

Contact: Housing Assistance Council, (202) 842-8600, www.ruralhome.org
Price: $9.00, 38 pages

Regional Rural Policy in Europe
Rural Policy Lessons from Abroad is a November 2000 commentary brief by the Center for the Study of Rural America, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The brief uses case studies from Hungary, England and Spain and illustrates the benefits of using a regional approach to implement rural economic policy.

Contact: Center for the Study of Rural America, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, www.kc.frb.org
Price: Free

Regional Economic Statistics
Need a website that gives you current economic conditions in any county in America? A website of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, www2.fdic.gov/recon, provides statistics by state, county and metropolitan area on economic conditions, including employment, housing, personal income, workforce, population and commodities. You can select information and create your own charts online.

Media for Communities
The Benton Foundation’s Public Media in the Digital Age is a how--to-use media packet for communities. The packet offers instruction on using public broadcasting, cable and online resources and outlines the links to community development.

Contact: The Benton Foundation, (202) 638-5770, www.benton.org
Price: Free

Free GIS Courses for Census
The Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI) virtual online GIS campus is now offering a free course exploring Census 2000 data. The course has two lesson modules on geographic data and exams.

Contact: ESRI Virtual Campus at http://campus.esri.com
Price: Free online

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