Data requirements and data availability for economic development planning in Knoxville

This study examines the data needs and data availability for economic development planning. Economic development planning is primarily concerned with the improvement of a community's economic base, providing employment opportunities, and increasing a community's tax base and income distribution. In a broad sense, economic development planning is meant to improve the quality of life and the standard of living of community residents.

The economic development planning process can be presented as a series of steps: local needs and goals identification, alternatives evaluation and strategy development, implementation, and evaluation. Though the process is here presented sequentially, it is actually a continuous process, and must be evaluated from time to time in light of changing economic conditions.

Comprehensive economic development planning requires the coordination of a community's development activities. Economic development planners should ensure the cooperation of a variety of public and private agencies and organizations. Neighborhood and community groups should also be provided access to the economic development planning process.

Making an assessment of a local economy is the first step in economic development planning. This need not be an extensive undertaking. The study indicates that only key information needs to be collected. Such information includes data regarding the population, labor force, employment and unemployment, earnings and wages, income and poverty, housing and education. It is noted in the study that the character of economic development planning agencies appears to be very important in determining the extent of data needs. The availability of data seems to vary based on different geographical levels and time scales.