Measuring Economic Development through Research and Analysis

Measuring Economic Development through Research and Analysis
ACCRA Conference Resources, Insights Now Available

This month CDFA Update highlights education program resources from the Council for Community and Economic Research (ACCRA). The ACCRA Annual Conference took place June 6-9 in Charlotte, North Carolina and featured four days of presentations on a wide range of economic development industry and research topics including:
Please click here for a complete list of topics covered and presentation downloads. The Annual Conference attracted more than 200 economic development and community research professionals from throughout the country, representing economic development organizations, chambers of commerce, universities, and government agencies, among many others.

ACCRA is a national membership dedicated to improving data availability, enhancing data quality, and fostering learning about regional economic analytic methods. ACCRA is known for its research services such as the Cost of Living Index and the State Incentives Database, as well as a number of educational programs and trainings throughout the year and its strategic economic development planning and research services.

CDFA recently conducted technical assistance as a subcontractor with ACCRA on the ‘Financing Road Map’ in support of the State of Arizona’s “Moving Arizona Forward” economic development strategy. The team assessed the financing challenges facing Arizona’s programs and identified best practices in community and business financing programs from other states and countries, and completed a federal program inventory. From this research ACCRA and CDFA identified Arizona’s key financing needs and gaps, and offered recommendations for improving the state’s financing capacity. One of the outcomes of this research was the development of Federal business assistance program profiles and the extension of an existing national database of state-funded financial assistance programs for businesses.